Trump Announces Hamas Disarmament Deal Amid Continued Israeli Strikes on Gaza

In late July 2026, President Trump announced that a U.S.-backed deal had been reached in which Hamas would disarm and Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza. Hamas confirmed it had agreed to the framework, which would ultimately require the group to relinquish its weapons and control over Gaza territory. Israeli government officials voiced skepticism about the plan and its feasibility, raising questions about whether Israel would follow through on a full withdrawal. Despite the announced agreement, Israeli strikes on Gaza continued in early August 2026. Israel said the strikes, which hit Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Deir el-Balah, targeted militant operatives. Palestinian health officials reported at least 13 people killed in the strikes. Among the casualties was a family in Gaza City—a man, his pregnant wife, and their 7-year-old son—whose deaths prompted public mourning, according to Palestinian officials cited by NBC News. As of early August 2026, the disarmament and withdrawal framework had not been fully implemented, and Israeli officials had not confirmed a timeline or commitment to complete withdrawal. The scale and continuation of Israeli military operations after the announced deal remain a point of contention, with Israel characterizing the strikes as targeting militants while Palestinian officials and mourners emphasized civilian deaths. It remains unresolved how the disarmament process would be verified or enforced, and whether the strikes represent a continuation of prior operations or a departure from the newly announced agreement.