Israeli strikes kill nine in Gaza, Israeli Minister says no deal to halt attacks
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- Israeli airstrikes killed at least nine Palestinians on Sunday August 2, 2026 across Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and Khan Younis — including a couple in Deir al-Balah, a father, mother, and their 9-year-old son in Khan Younis, and a child in Gaza City.
- Energy Minister Eli Cohen, a member of Netanyahu's security cabinet, said there was no deal to halt attacks and that Israel should take full control of the Strip, which he noted it already controls 70% of.
- The Israeli military said the Deir al-Balah strikes targeted two commanders of Hamas' elite "Nukhba" force, while the Gaza City and Jabalia strikes hit "military operatives" still under review.
- Trump's Board of Peace published a 15-point roadmap on July 31 to implement last year's ceasefire after Hamas agreed to disarm under a US-backed initiative Trump announced as a breakthrough on July 30.
- Hamas conditioned disarmament on Israel halting military operations and withdrawing forces; an Israeli official told Reuters there would be no withdrawal unless Hamas undergoes "genuine disarmament."
- National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called the US-backed ceasefire initiative unacceptable and said Israel should continue assassinating Hamas leaders, while Netanyahu has not commented publicly.
Why it matters: The gap between Trump's July 30 'breakthrough' announcement and continued Israeli strikes — confirmed by a Netanyahu security cabinet member who explicitly rejected any halt — collapses the US-backed 15-point roadmap before it can be implemented. Hamas conditions disarmament on an Israeli withdrawal Cohen rejected outright, leaving 1,230 Palestinians dead since the October ceasefire as the only measurable result.
