CAIRO, Aug 2 - Israeli airstrikes struck Gaza on Sunday for a second day running, killing at least four Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials. Medical sources said separate strikes hit residential buildings in Gaza City and in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
Medics reported that an airstrike on an apartment in Deir al-Balah killed a man and his wife and wounded four others. In Gaza City, a separate strike struck an apartment, killing two people including a child, according to the Palestinian health authorities.
These operations took place amid a U.S. announcement earlier in the week that there had been a breakthrough after Hamas agreed to disarm under a U.S.-backed initiative meant to implement the ceasefire accord reached last year in Egypt. On Friday, the U.S. Board of Peace published a 15-point roadmap setting out the final steps needed to carry out that agreement, the plan’s backers said. The roadmap had not been implemented at the time of the strikes.
Hamas has said it will only hand over weapons for storage after Israel halts military operations and pulls back its forces in accordance with last year’s agreement. An Israeli official told news agencies that there would be no withdrawal from current military positions unless Hamas undergoes what the official called "genuine disarmament."
Responses within Israel and among Palestinian and regional actors have so far been mixed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not issued a public statement on the U.S.-backed initiative. By contrast, Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir labelled the proposal unacceptable and said Israel should persist in targeting Hamas leaders.
Mohammed Dahlan, a former senior Fatah official based in the United Arab Emirates, posted on Facebook that Jared Kushner, identified as a senior U.S. adviser involved in the initiative, had told him he was coordinating with Israeli interlocutors to stop attacks on Gaza. Dahlan said contacts with the U.S. were ongoing to ensure full implementation of the agreement, and he added that success now hinged on Israel fully ending what he described as daily attacks on Gaza.
Requests for comment were sent to the U.S. State Department regarding Dahlan’s remarks. There was no immediate comment from Israeli authorities.
Summary of current status:
- At least four Palestinians have been killed in separate airstrikes on Gaza City and Deir al-Balah.
- The U.S. announced a reported breakthrough with Hamas agreeing to disarm under a U.S.-backed initiative; a 15-point roadmap has been published but not implemented.
- Key disagreements remain over sequencing: Hamas seeks cessation of Israeli operations and withdrawal before weapons are handed over for storage, while Israeli officials say withdrawal requires genuine disarmament.