Palestine weekly: Israel kills dozens in Gaza after Hamas disarmament deal | Israel-Palestine conflict News
Trump Announces Disarmament Agreement for Hamas in Gaza
July 30, 2026
President Donald Trump announced a “historic agreement” aimed at the disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, marking a significant development in the ongoing conflict. The announcement, made on July 30, signals a move into the second phase of the October 2025 ceasefire deal.
The agreement was facilitated by the Board of Peace, an organization created by Trump to oversee post-war reconstruction and governance in Gaza. However, Hamas negotiator Ghazi Hamad stated that the group would not adhere to the agreement unless Israel fulfilled its commitments, which include ceasing military operations and withdrawing troops.
In response, a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that Israeli forces would remain until Hamas was fully disarmed. This ongoing deadlock has led to a continuation, and in some cases an intensification, of Israeli military actions in Gaza, with reports indicating that attacks have escalated following the announcement of the disarmament deal.
Just days after the agreement was disclosed, Israeli airstrikes resulted in the deaths of at least 19 Palestinians in a single day, contributing to a weekend total of 26 fatalities in Gaza.
Nickolay Mladenov, an envoy with the Board of Peace, condemned the recent violence, stating, “Two days of strikes across Gaza have killed civilians and destroyed medical supplies that people depend on.”
July has been particularly deadly, marked as the worst month for casualties in Gaza this year. In the occupied West Bank, incidents involving Israeli settlers also reached significant levels, resulting in further violence.
The escalation of airstrikes continued on Sunday, as families were targeted in their homes. Notably, a strike in Gaza City’s al-Sousi Tower resulted in the deaths of Abdullah Abu Taif, his pregnant wife, Abeer Anan, and their five-year-old son, Azzam. Medics reported recovering the remains of an unborn child from the rubble.
Additional strikes targeted other residential areas, including al-Qarara, where a family of three was killed, and the Deir el-Balah region, where an elderly couple lost their lives. A strike on a shelter for displaced individuals also resulted in casualties, including a child.
The Health Ministry of Gaza reported that July marked the deadliest month of the year, with 152 people killed. By August 3, the total number of fatalities since the October ceasefire reached 1,250, with over 4,100 injured. Emergency responders recently retrieved 112 bodies, including children, from a flattened building, with many individuals still unaccounted for.
In the West Bank, settler-related violence surged, with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicating that July, alongside March, was one of the deadliest months for Palestinians in such incidents since October 2023. OCHA recorded over 1,380 incidents linked to settlers in the region, reflecting an alarming trend.
Reports have detailed instances of violence against Palestinians, including a recent attack where a 10-year-old boy was shot, and another where an elderly couple was assaulted on their farm. Settler activity has included the establishment of new illegal outposts, further complicating the situation.
Moreover, the Israeli military has issued land seizure orders in the Jenin governorate, ostensibly for military purposes, but experts suggest it is to support a network of new settlements.
Amid rising tensions and international scrutiny, Canada’s Foreign Ministry recently described the Israeli settlements as “illegal under international law.” Israeli officials countered by accusing Canada of encouraging terrorism, revealing the heightened friction surrounding the topic.
As the situation continues to develop, both the humanitarian impact in Gaza and the West Bank remains a pressing concern, with leader of the Gaza Health Ministry expressing that recent strikes exacerbate an already dire public health crisis.
