Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a US-backed 15-point peace plan for Gaza, marking a public disagreement with former President Donald Trump. In his statement, Netanyahu addressed what he described as a "wave of rumours about Israeli weakness and Israeli withdrawals on all fronts," and criticized US pressure to resolve conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran without Israel's agreement.
In related developments, Iran has issued new demands for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while the United Arab Emirates reported that one of its ships was targeted by an Iranian missile over the weekend. Iran stated that the strait would remain closed until the US alters its approach. Additionally, the Tehran-aligned Houthis in Yemen claimed responsibility for an attack on a Saudi Arabian refinery.
The ongoing US-Iran conflict has reportedly stranded up to 20,000 seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz, primarily Indian and Filipino crew members, with 17 seafarers reported dead since the onset of hostilities due to Iranian strikes. Furthermore, Justin Vail from the advocacy group Protect Democracy commented on recent tabletop exercises aimed at preparing for potential scenarios related to these conflicts. Lastly, voting rights advocates have raised concerns about Trump's rhetoric undermining confidence in US elections, particularly following his July primetime address that questioned the integrity of voting processes.