Gaza latest: Trump claims ‘historic’ deal reached with Hamas for complete disarmament

American forces resume strikes after attempted Iranian attacksDonald Trump says his Board of Peace has reached a “historic” agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza, describing it as a major step towards ending the war.Under the proposed phased deal, Hamas would disarm, Israeli forces would withdraw as the disarmament progresses, and an international stabilisation force would work with a new Palestinian police force until a new Palestinian government takes over governance in Gaza.Trump thanked Egypt, Qatar and Turkey for mediating the agreement.However, a senior Hamas negotiator said the group’s disarmament is conditional on Israel fulfilling its commitments under the agreement, including withdrawing from Gaza and allowing the establishment of a national committee and reconstruction efforts.Ghazi Hamad said: “The agreement contains a clear provision stating that Israel must commit to and implement its obligations. If Israel does not implement the agreement, neither will we.”In other Middle East news, Tehran warned the US it will “pay the price” following reports that a family of three, including a couple and a two-year-old child, were killed in a strike on Qeshm Island. US-brokered plan for Israel to withdraw from Lebanon suffers slow startA US-brokered plan for Israel to withdraw gradually from occupied areas of southern Lebanon in exchange for the disarmament of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia has started slower than expected.The "pilot zone program" is the centrepiece of the US’ June 26 framework deal intended to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah, and establish peaceful ties between Israel and Lebanon.Hezbollah still refuses to give up its weapons, while on the ground, the rollout of the first zone in the south Lebanese village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh last week offered a glimpse of a strained and complex process that will be no easier to repeat elsewhere.A senior Lebanese military official, who requested anonymity in order to speak freely, told the Reuters news agency it had taken weeks of US-brokered negotiations with Israel and days of military operations to establish the first zone in a single village.The agreement links Israel's progressive withdrawal to the "verified disarmament" of Hezbollah — which is not a party to the deal, has refused to give up its arsenal, and has raised the prospect of internal strife if the state tries to disarm it by force.Alex Croft31 July 2026 05:02US military says 24 ships redirected during blockadeUS Central Command has said 24 ships have been redirected, two disabled and two boarded during its blockade of Iranian ports. Rachel Dobkin31 July 2026 04:02Watch: Netanyahu denies persuading Trump on Iran war, asserts 'it's his decision'Netanyahu denies persuading Trump on Iran war, asserts 'it's his decision'Alex Croft31 July 2026 03:00Iranian official responds to Qeshm Island attack: 'Pains the heart'Esmaeil Baqaei, a spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, has said the attack on Qeshm Island “pains the heart of every conscientious human being”.Iran has blamed the U.S. for an attack on a residential building that reportedly killed a couple and a two-year-old child.“The criminal attack last night on the homes of the noblest Iranians in Qeshm, which resulted in the destruction of several houses and the martyrdom of a hardworking taxi driver, Qeysar Jafari, his wife Zahra Jafari, and their innocent two-year-old child, Sina, pains the heart of every conscientious human being”, Baqaei wrote on X. “With every explosion, with every crime, with every sanction, with every threat, with the killing of every child, you only make Iranians more determined and united in defending their homeland”, the spokesperson added.Rachel Dobkin31 July 2026 02:04In pictures: Smoke rises after multiple US strikesSmoke rises after reports of multiple US strikes on the city, as loud explosions were heard according to the Iranian state TV, in Ahvaz, Khuzestan Province, Iran, July 30, 2026, in this screen grab obtained from a social media video.(Reuters)(Reuters)Maira Butt31 July 2026 01:01Iran's Araghchi presses European counterparts over use of bases in US operationsIran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged Bulgaria to reconsider its decision to allow the temporary deployment of U.S. military aircraft at the Bezmer air base, Iranian state media reported on Thursday.During a phone call with his Bulgarian counterpart, Velislava Petrova-Chamova, Araghchi said Sofia's approval of a U.S. request to station military aircraft at the base to support military operations amounted to facilitating aggression against Iran, adding the move was unacceptable and contrary to the traditionally friendly relations between the two countries.Iran has repeatedly warned countries allowing their territory to be used for U.S. military operations against it that they could "face consequences".Araghchi held a separate phone call with Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, during which he stressed the importance of preventing foreign military bases in Cyprus from being used against Iran.Alex Croft31 July 2026 00:00In focus: How the wars in Iran and Ukraine are colliding on the world’s largest lakeIran claimed one sailor was killed and another injured in the Ukrainian attack, as the ministry summoned Ukraine’s chargé d’affaires in Tehran to protest against what it described as a “hostile and criminal” act.Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday the reported strike on a commercial vessel “cannot go unanswered” in a call with the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov.Maira Butt30 July 2026 23:00US issues Iran-related sanctions against Iranian air carrierThe US on Thursday issued new Iran-related sanctions that target global networks supporting Mahan Air, the Iranian carrier Washington says transports Iran's Revolutionary Guards personnel, as well as weapons and drones.The US Treasury designated six entities and individuals in China, India, Russia and Iran for acting as sales agents and support networks for the US- and EU-sanctioned airline, the department said in a statement.Alex Croft30 July 2026 22:01The four Iranian nuclear plants in Trump’s sights after president’s threat to hit Pickaxe MountainWith the US-Iran ceasefire in tatters, Donald Trump has issued new threats against Tehran’s nuclear facilities in what would represent a significant escalation in the conflict.Named Operation Midnight Hammer, the countries launched a series of attacks on several nuclear and military facilities more than one year ago. as part of a long-running ambition to thwart Tehran’s nuclear weapons programme.Maira Butt30 July 2026 21:00Watch: American forces resume strikes after attempted Iranian attacksAmerican forces resume strikes after attempted Iranian attacksMaira Butt30 July 2026 20:30