Hamas offers disarmament under Gaza deal as Israeli strikes continue

Hamas said it would begin disarming under a proposed Gaza deal if Israel halts strikes and withdraws. The offer has raised hopes of progress, but continued attacks and disputes over a Palestinian state keep the region on edge.Stock photo used for illustrationHamas said on Friday that it would begin disarming under a proposed deal that also requires Israel to stop its strikes and withdraw from Gaza, in what could be a breakthrough in efforts to end the war. But major obstacles remain, with Israeli strikes continuing in Gaza and Hamas saying it would hand over its heavy weapons later only if a Palestinian state is created.The developments came amid wider tensions across the Middle East. There were no US strikes reported in Iran overnight, but Iran said it had carried out drone attacks on Kuwait and struck two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Elsewhere, Saudi Arabia announced a 14-country defence initiative for maritime security, while in Lebanon, fresh Israeli military action came ahead of new talks on a possible Israeli withdrawal and Hezbollah's disarmament.Hamas said the disarmament move was part of a deal announced by US President Donald Trump. The group said laying down its heavy weapons would come later in the process and would depend on the creation of a Palestinian state, something Israel's current government rejects.Even as the announcement raised hopes of movement, Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza again on Friday, killing at least one Palestinian and wounding at least four others, including a child, according to officials at hospitals near the attack sites. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Israel has not officially commented on the Hamas deal, which is part of a US-brokered ceasefire announced last October. Under that agreement, Hamas was to disarm and hand over power to an independent Palestinian administration, while Israel was to withdraw from Gaza and an International Stabilisation Force was to be deployed.Progress later stalled, with Israel saying everything depended on Hamas disarming, and Hamas accusing Israel of breaching the agreement by continuing regular strikes on Gaza. The war began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage. Gaza's Health Ministry says Israel's military offensive has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, including those killed since the ceasefire. On the Iran front, no US strikes were reported on Friday. Kuwait's Defence Ministry said its armed forces had shot down drones inside Kuwaiti airspace. It said the Iranian attacks had targeted several vital military facilities, causing material damage from falling shrapnel but no casualties. It did not say how many drones were intercepted. Iranian state media said the target was an air base in Kuwait and described the attack as retaliation for US strikes on Thursday.Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it had hit two oil tankers trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and gas shipments that has been badly disrupted by the fighting. Iranian state media also said four other tankers had turned around. No further details were given on the tankers' ownership or whether there were any casualties.Saudi Arabia announced a plan for a defence alliance of 14 countries to strengthen maritime security, protect freedom of navigation and secure trade routes and energy supply corridors in the Red Sea region. The war involving Iran has severely disrupted global shipping. Yemen's Houthi rebels have also declared a blockade on Saudi Arabia over a separate but related conflict, putting another major trade corridor at risk.Saudi Arabia's Defence Ministry said on Thursday that the coalition is "defensive in nature," and that access "remains open to all willing countries." Oman and the United Arab Emirates were the only two Gulf countries that did not back the Saudi statement. Turkiye, Egypt and Pakistan were among the countries that joined the proposed alliance.A Houthi official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to brief the media, said on Friday that the Saudi initiative would not protect its vessels and that this would happen only after the Saudis lifted their blockade on Yemen. Large crowds also gathered in Sanaa and other Houthi-controlled areas in support of the Iran-backed rebels and their Red Sea attacks on Saudi Arabia. The rallies were organised by the Houthis.In southern Lebanon, Israeli forces set off explosions on Friday to destroy an underground tunnel network beneath the Crusader-built Beaufort Castle, which Israel says had been used by Hezbollah militants as a command centre. The 12th-century castle, also known as Al-Shaqif, was seized by Israeli forces in May and was recently added to UNESCO's World Heritage List over Israel's objections.Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun said the Israeli operation sent "negative messages" ahead of upcoming talks in Rome. Israeli and Lebanese negotiating teams are due to meet there again to continue working on a plan under which Israel would withdraw from southern Lebanon in exchange for Hezbollah's disarmament.Overall, the day saw a possible opening in Gaza with Hamas signalling readiness to disarm under a wider deal, even as violence continued on the ground. At the same time, tensions linked to Iran, maritime security in the Gulf and Red Sea, and negotiations over southern Lebanon showed that multiple conflicts across the region remain unresolved.With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Jul 31, 2026 23:46 IST