‘I wanted to hug whatever remained’: Gaza families’ 3-year wait for funeral

Overnight Israeli strikes on Gaza killed at least eight people, hitting residential buildings in Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Deir el-Balah, according to Palestinian officials. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated they were targeting military operatives, reporting the deaths of two Hamas militants, including commanders from elite forces. These strikes occurred on the second consecutive night and followed Hamas's acceptance of a disarmament plan involving the handover of weapons to a US President's Board of Peace. Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen indicated no deal was in place to halt attacks and suggested Israel might need full control of Gaza if Hamas did not disarm, despite the Board of Peace plan for Israeli withdrawal.

Israeli forces conducted strikes across the Gaza Strip, killing at least eight Palestinians, including a man and woman in a helicopter strike and others in Khan Younis and Gaza City. These attacks occurred two days after the US unveiled a 15-point plan for Hamas disarmament and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, intended to implement a previous ceasefire agreement. The plan has not yet been put into action, with Hamas stating it will only disarm after Israel halts operations and withdraws, while an Israeli official insists disarmament must precede withdrawal. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has publicly opposed the initiative, advocating for continued targeting of Hamas leaders. Talks are ongoing with Washington, with the success of the agreement reportedly dependent on Israel ending its daily strikes.

Israeli strikes across Gaza on August 1, 2026, killed at least four Palestinians. Separate attacks destroyed medicine warehouses adjacent to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah, which Gaza's Health Ministry called a "heinous crime" and appealed for international intervention. The ministry reported that two storage facilities were destroyed and two others damaged, leading to severe losses of medical supplies. These strikes occurred days after Hamas and other Palestinian factions signed a disarmament agreement. The Israeli army stated they destroyed five Hamas weapon depots, one near the hospital. Gaza's Health Ministry also reported seven deaths and 76 wounded across the territory in the preceding 48 hours.

Hamas has reportedly reached an agreement to disarm, a significant development that could potentially end the war in Gaza. This agreement is part of a broader road map that requires concessions from Israel, including ending hostilities and withdrawing its troops. The deal, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, outlines a phased approach where disarmament would be followed by an Israeli withdrawal and the deployment of an International Stabilization Force. However, the implementation faces considerable challenges, as disarmament is a core aspect of Hamas's identity and has been a major sticking point in previous negotiations. Israel has not officially commented but has previously expressed skepticism about Hamas's willingness to disarm. The agreement's guarantors include the U.S., Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar.