Symbolic imageMediators rebuke Israel after one of Gaza's deadliest days since the truce
Israeli strikes killed 18 Palestinians in Gaza on Sunday and two more on Monday, one of the deadliest stretches since the October ceasefire.
What happened
- Israeli media report chief of staff Eyal Zamir must now approve strikes on Hamas members in advance, unless soldiers face immediate danger.
- Previously certain commanders sufficed; the Times of Israel says strike numbers have already dropped in recent days.
- Gaza's Government Media Office counts over 4,000 Israeli violations, 1,200 killed and 4,100 injured since the truce began on 10 October 2025.
- Israeli forces withdrew to the yellow line under that deal but retained control of more than half the Strip.
- The Board of Peace's Gaza envoy met Israel's prime minister on Monday, 3 August, in what the board called a constructive meeting.
The view from outside
TASS alone relays Gaza's media office holding the US administration co-responsible for the strikes alongside Israel. German reporting frames the falling strike count as an internal Israeli command decision, a connection the mediator-country outlets do not draw.
What could happen next
- Israel's political leadership has not commented on the reported rule change; the army referred questions to it.
- Open: whether factions may keep personal firearms and whether Israel guarantees safe passage for cadres leaving Gaza.
- Mediators are in contact with Washington on next steps; Israel has not confirmed the fate of 10,000 Hamas government employees.
How the camps see it
Israel: Netanyahu's office says the published road map does not reflect Israel's positions and demands verifiable, irreversible demilitarisation of Hamas first.
Palestinian factions: Hamas and allied factions insist Israel halt attacks before they implement the weapons clauses, and want to keep personal firearms for self-defence.
Also involved