De-escalation efforts underway after latest Gaza strikes
The Board of Peace, a body established to resolve the situation in the Gaza Strip, is working with mediating states to de-escalate the enclave after a new series of Israeli strikes, according to its High Representative for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov.
In a social media post, Mladenov said the strikes have taken a heavy toll on civilians and medical infrastructure. "Two days of strikes across Gaza have killed civilians and destroyed medical supplies that people depend on," he wrote, adding that his team is working with parties, mediators, and regional partners to create "the space for the full implementation of [US] President [Donald Trump's] peace plan."
He stressed that both Israel and Hamas, which he described as "the radical Palestinian movement," are responsible for fulfilling the terms of the existing peace agreement.
Coverage of the strikes and their impact
Reports of the latest violence describe Israeli attacks on August 1 and 2. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) press service reported strikes on Hamas positions, saying weapons depots had been destroyed and three militants were killed, including the commander of the Jabalia battalion. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera, citing sources in the enclave's hospitals, reported that at least 19 Palestinians were killed due to the Israeli attacks.
=== The strikes come as the fragile ceasefire that began in January 2025 is being tested. The ceasefire agreement, brokered with the help of the US, Egypt, and Qatar, was designed to proceed in two phases. The first included a stop to hostilities, release of detainees, expanded humanitarian aid, and a partial Israeli withdrawal. The second phase aimed at further steps to end the conflict and determine Gaza's future structure.
The disarmament plan
On July 30, US President Donald Trump announced that an agreement had been reached to completely disarm Hamas, a development reported by multiple sources. The deal is described as involving the transfer of control of Gaza's civilian administration to Palestinian technocrats and includes a 20-point plan for post-war Gaza.
=== According to the plan, Hamas will hand over its weapons to a transitional authority, not to Israel. Israel has not commented on the agreement, according to Deutsche Welle.
Ahead of Trump's announcement, an Israeli official had indicated that a 15-point proposal discussed by mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey did not meet Israel's demands for the complete demilitarization of the Gaza Strip. Hamas has stated that its disarmament depends on a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from the enclave, while Israel insists it will not pull back beyond a designated line until disarmament is complete.
Continued uncertainty
The situation on the ground remains unsettled. The Board of Peace's envoy, Mladenov, emphasized the need for both sides to meet their commitments under the peace agreement, but did not provide a timeline or concrete steps for the de-escalation process.
As the ceasefire's fragility becomes more apparent, civilians in Gaza continue to face danger and uncertainty. The humanitarian situation for displaced Palestinians is increasingly dire, with families exposed to the dangers of the shifting front lines and hope of returning home fading.
The international community, as reflected by the reported evacuations, is urging both parties to honor the terms of the ceasefire and support the de-escalation efforts being led by the Board of Peace and the mediating states.