Hamas says a deal has been reached in Gaza, and other developments in the Middle East

A Palestinian man rides his bicycle by the rubble of buildings that were destroyed during the Israel-Hamas-war" class="entity-link entity-event" data-entity-id="175587" data-entity-type="event">Israel Hamas war, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Friday, July 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) 2026-07-31T14:53:27Z CAIRO (AP) — Hamas confirmed Friday that it will disarm in a potential breakthrough for ending the war in Gaza, but major obstacles remain. There were no U.S. strikes on Iran overnight, but the Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it had struck another two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz , and Kuwait said it intercepted drones. Here are the most important developments across the Middle East today: Gaza: Deal reached for Hamas to disarm, Israel to withdraw Hamas said it will begin disarming as part of a deal announced by U.S. President Donald Trump that also requires Israel to end its strikes and withdraw from Gaza. Hamas also said that laying down its heavy weapons, which would come later in the process, was contingent on the creation of a Palestinian state, something Israel’s current government adamantly rejects. Israel has not officially commented on the deal, which is part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire announced last October. That agreement called for Hamas to disarm and hand over power to an independent Palestinian administration. Israel was to withdraw, and an International Stabilization Force was to deploy. But progress stalled, with Israel saying everything hinged on Hamas disarming, and Hamas accusing Israel of violating the agreement by continuing to carry out regular strikes on Gaza. The war in Gaza began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, including those killed since the ceasefire, Gaza’s Health Ministry says. The Associated Press is tracking the progress of Trump’s plan to end the Israel-Hamas war. Latest developments on the Iran conflict No U.S. strikes were reported in Iran on Friday. Iran fired drones at Kuwait, a Gulf country hosting U.S. forces, and said it had also fired at oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil and gas shipments, which has been largely closed by the fighting. 1. Kuwait’s Defense Ministry said Friday its armed forces had shot down drones inside Kuwaiti airspace. It said the Iranian attacks had targeted several vital military facilities, causing material damage from falling shrapnel but no casualties. It did not specify how many drones were intercepted. Iranian state media said Iran had targeted an air base in Kuwait with drones, in retaliation for U.S. strikes on Thursday. 2. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed to have hit two oil tankers attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media said four other tankers had turned around. The report did not provide further details on which flags or ownership the tankers were sailing under, or say whether there were any casualties. (