Israel carried out airstrikes on the Gaza Strip for a second consecutive day on Sunday, causing 18 additional deaths despite Hamas showing signs of agreeing to disarm under a ceasefire deal.
On Sunday, 2 Aug 2026 GMT+7, Israel launched airstrikes on the Gaza Strip for the second day in a row, resulting in at least 18 more Palestinian deaths, even as US President Donald Trump announced progress in efforts to enforce last year's ceasefire agreement.
Palestinian health officials reported that since early morning, Israeli warplanes attacked northern Gaza City, central Deir al-Balah, and southern Khan Younis, resulting in 18 deaths—the highest daily toll in several weeks.
Israel continues its attacks in the Gaza Strip despite US President Donald Trump’s Thursday (30 Jul) claim that Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups agreed to disarm as stipulated in the ceasefire deal, raising hopes for a turning point to end the conflict.
However, on Sunday (2 Aug), Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet, said the government would give Hamas a chance to disarm but expressed strong doubts that it would actually happen.
Cohen told Israeli Army Radio there is no agreement yet to end the Gaza attacks and said Israel, which already controls 70% of Gaza, would need to take full control if Hamas refuses to disarm.
"In the agreement we signed with the US, our position is that Hamas must be uprooted. That is the first thing that must happen," Cohen said.
Meanwhile, Doron Spielman, spokesperson for Netanyahu’s office, told Reuters that Israel has expressed concerns to the US about the disarmament plan. "Israel’s biggest worry is that nothing will happen until Hamas is fully and genuinely disarmed..." he said.
Hamas stated that Israel must stop its attacks in Gaza and withdraw its forces, along with other key ceasefire conditions, before Hamas agrees to hand over weapons to the new Palestinian authority appointed to manage Gaza.
On Sunday, Hamas confirmed it had shown “considerable flexibility” but accused Israel of trying to obstruct peace efforts and using force to coerce outcomes favorable to itself in the area.
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Source:cna