City in the southern Gaza Strip; capital of Rafah Governorate
Nickolay Mladenov has told the UN Security Council that implementation of the US-led Board of Peace Gaza roadmap has stalled because Hamas has refused to disarm and Israel is maintaining control of roughly 60% of Gaza. Daily strikes and constrained aid are persisting, reconstruction finance is drying up, and diplomacy is not completing the transition to the second phase.
War-driven destitution has spurred a rise in early marriages in Gaza, with parents saying they marry off daughters aged 13–16 for protection and aid. AP findings cite multiple girls reporting rape and abuse; 2024–25 data show under-18 marriages rising despite earlier declines.
The Israeli Defense Forces have intensified strikes against Hamas and allied groups in Gaza, targeting commanders and operational cells. Across the Gaza Strip, the IDF says it is destroying weaponry, reconciling with ceasefire terms, and pursuing a broader security objective. Palestinian casualties and continued political negotiations shape the evolving conflict.
The Board of Peace has convened with international figures to map a Gaza plan aimed at isolating Hamas and kicking off a “temporary reconstruction” in Hamas-free zones. Donors have balked at funding, Israeli political gridlock persists, and legal immunity concerns shadow the mission as talks race to preserve momentum.
The ceasefire in Gaza remains fragile as Israeli strikes persist and Palestinian casualties rise. Multiple incidents near Beit Lahiya and Khan Younis have killed civilians, including a 13-year-old, and drawn international concern. Authorities say casualties continue to mount since the October 2023 war, despite a formal ceasefire.
The US-backed Board of Peace has scaled back its Gaza reconstruction plan to a small pilot camp near Rafah and authorised limited international stabilisation personnel. Hamas has dissolved its Gaza governing body but has not agreed to disarm. Israel has refused major troop withdrawals, continued strikes and delayed legal agreements needed for larger deployments; large-scale rebuilding is unlikely before Israel's October election.
The Gaza ceasefire remains in effect as the Board of Peace confirms plans for an international stabilization force. Morocco has signaled its participation, and authorities report ongoing strikes and casualties in Gaza, with Israeli forces targeting police stations and militant sites amid shifting security arrangements.
Israeli strikes in Gaza City have killed four people, including a public-relations official for the Egyptian Relief Committee, as a World Cup screening event unfolds. Dozens are injured; ceasefire remains fragile while fighting continues across the Gaza Strip.
At least nine Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza on Saturday, including three children. An airstrike on a Gaza City apartment building killed five people from the same family, with several others wounded. The toll across Gaza has climbed over 73,000 since October 2023, as civilians continue to flee and ceasefire talks remain at an impasse.
Spain defeats Argentina 1-0 in extra time to claim the 2026 World Cup. Netanyahu has publicly supported Argentina, while Spain’s Sánchez condemns Israel’s Gaza campaign. The final has become a global stage for competing political loyalties, drawing reactions from Palestinian supporters and international actors.
Hamas has elected Khalil al-Hayya as head of its political bureau, succeeding Yahya Sinwar who was killed in 2024. The vote follows a wartime leadership transition and reflects tensions between Gaza-based leadership and diaspora factions, with al-Hayya seen as aligned with Tehran and a continuing hardline stance.
Spain has won the World Cup, a victory that Palestinians see as a symbol of solidarity amid Gaza’s war. Reports describe celebrations across Palestinian communities and in Gaza, where football remains a rare escape from conflict. The tournament underscores political divides and global advocacy around Gaza, with Spain’s stance on Palestine shaping the conversation.
Satellite images show a growing barrier along the Yellow Line in Gaza, with berms and concrete blocks extending through Palestinian communities and cutting off land and water access. Israel says the barrier aims to prevent infiltration and protect troops, while Palestinians fear it signals a de facto border and intensified displacement.
Palestinian families are reuniting after a long separation across Israel and Gaza. A new cross-border inspection regime at Kerem Abu Salem follows an Egyptian border return and has drawn scrutiny for its handling of belongings and dignity. The stories center on Mais and other divided families seeking safety and future citizenship for Gaza-born relatives.
A Gaza Water carrier, a Beirut mother in displacement, and a Sudanese student-turned-worker illuminate the human toll of conflict. From Gaza’s streets to Lebanon’s camps, child labour and sleep-deprived families are front-page realities amid ongoing crises.
Multiple Israeli strikes have killed and injured civilians in Gaza as mediators push for the second phase of Trump’s ceasefire plan. Palestinian health authorities say hospitals are damaged and medical supplies are destroyed, while Gaza officials and witnesses express guarded hope that a genuine, disarmament-based ceasefire may be near.
President Donald Trump has announced that Hamas has agreed to a 15-point roadmap for phased disarmament and a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza overseen by a US-led Board of Peace and an International Stabilization Force. Mediators and Hamas say implementation will link weapons decommissioning to Israeli pullback; Israeli officials insist no withdrawal will occur without full demilitarisation. Violence has continued on the ground.
A live review of the latest remarks on Hamas disarmament and an Israeli withdrawal plan amid a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. Israeli officials say Hamas remains focused on rebuilding its military, while Hamas says it will begin disarming under the deal. Negotiations are ongoing with elections in view.