Main points
US president Donald Trump said early on Friday the Board of Peace had reached an agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and all other armed groups in GazaHowever, briefings from both sides exposed disputes over its implementation that could prove difficult to overcomeSenior Hamas officials have reportedly agreed to the planIrish Neutrality League calls for protests should Donald Trump visit Ireland in September
The Irish Neutrality League has called for protests should Donald Trump visit Ireland in September.
The group said it will also support protests at Trump’s Doonbeg golf course in Co Clare.
In a statement, Sara O’ Rourke for the Irish Neutrality League said the group is “urging” people to join a “No Welcome for Trump – Protect Our Neutrality” protest on September 5th in Dublin.
O’ Rourke said: “Trump came to office on a claim that he would end America’s endless wars but he has brought death and destruction to many since then.”
IRGC says it struck two tankers under US ‘air escort’ in the strait of Hormuz
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it struck two tankers under US “air escort” that attempted to pass the strait of Hormuz, according to state media.
In a statement carried by Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, the IRGC said: In the early hours of today, two rogue tankers, under the mistaken belief they could pass [the strait of Hormuz] under the air escort of the child-killing US military, disregarded our warnings and proceeded along an unsafe and illegal path, whereupon they were struck and brought to a halt.
It added that four other tankers “swiftly changed course” and returned to their previous location. The US military did not immediately comment on the claim.
Iran has effective control of the strait of Hormuz, which has largely remained shut to maritime traffic since the start of the war on 28 February. – The Guardian
Hugh Dooley – 2 hours ago
UN-backed body claims ‘full readiness’ to govern Gaza
The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NACG) claimed it is fully ready to assume governance of the Gaza Strip.
The committee said it has completed “extensive institutional and operational preparations” to take over the running of the area and to “restore essential public services, strengthen the rule of law, facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, and lead recovery and reconstruction efforts”.
The body, which authorised by UN Security Council Resolution 2803, said the success of the process “depends first and foremost on Palestinian national partnership”.
“The task ahead is immense, and rebuilding Gaza requires sustained international commitment, substantial financial resources, and close cooperation among all partners.”
Hugh Dooley – 2 hours ago
Several wounded in Gaza by Israeli airstrike after deal – medics
Several Palestinians were wounded in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a deal on Hamas disarmament, Gaza medics told Reuters.
Hugh Dooley – 2 hours ago
Germany will help implement Gaza disarmament deal
German foreign minister Johann Wadephul has welcomed a phased disarmament agreement in Gaza but said it was now key that real progress was made and Hamas actually disarms.
He said that Germany will do its part to help implement the agreement.
“Germany stands ready to support the people of Gaza with humanitarian aid and early recovery. Thus, additional crossings into Gaza should be opened without delay,” wrote Wadephul on X.
Hugh Dooley – 2 hours ago
Hamas will hand over weapons to new Gaza administration
Hamas officials say the group will hand over its weapons to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a new body established by the Board of Peace to oversee day-to-day affairs in the Palestinian territory.
Ghazi Hamad said the NCAG and international force must enter Gaza and dismantle Israeli-backed militias. – Additional reporting; Reuters
Hugh Dooley – 3 hours ago
‘Withdrawal must move in lockstep with decommissioning’ – Board of Peace
Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza on the Board of Peace said that the withdrawal of Israeli forces must “move in lockstep with decommissioning”.
The former Bulgarian foreign minister and UN special enjoy said in a statement on social media the agreement took “months of very difficult negotiations” but that what comes next is more important.
“Ahead of us is a Gaza rebuilt, governed by Palestinians and at peace with Israel an a political horizon to a meaningful resolution the Israeli Palestinian conflict.”
Today, agreement has been reached on the decommissioning of weapons and civilian transition in Gaza. It took months of very difficult negotiations to get here. There were several points when I did not believe we would make it… What the agreement says matters. What happens next…
— Nickolay E. MLADENOV (@nmladenov) July 31, 2026
Hugh Dooley – 3 hours ago
Disarmament agreement could take 350 days to implement
US and Board of Peace officials have briefed outlets that the disarmament agreement will not be implemented immediately.
Details of the deal would have to be refined over the next couple of weeks, they have said, with progress expected in the coming month or two.
They laid out a timeline of 200 to 350 days for implementation, but cautioned that it could still change, with much technical work still to do. -Additional reporting; Bloomberg
Hugh Dooley – 3 hours ago
Israel must approve agreement for Hamas to implement it
Israel must approve the phased disarmament agreement brokered by US president Donald Trump’s Board of Peace before Hamas will implement it.
Ghazi Hamad, a Hamas official involved in the negotiations, told Reuters that once both sides approve the agreement text, Israel must begin implementing the agreement’s first phase, Hamad said. – Reuters
Hugh Dooley – 3 hours ago
Trump says Hamas has agreed to Gaza disarmament
US president Donald Trump said early on Friday the Board of Peace had reached an agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas, which would eventually lead to Israeli forces withdrawing.
Trump said the parties had entered into a “historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza”, in a post on Truth Social.
He described it as a “monumental step” towards a lasting peace in the region and towards Gaza being governed by a new Palestinian government, which will work closely with the Board of Peace.
“At the same time, Israel will have the security it deserves, with Gaza no longer used as a base for terror attacks.”
Trump said the deal would be carried out in phases, with Israeli forces withdrawing as disarmament proceeds and an international stabilisation force working with a new Palestinian police force to secure the enclave.
He said there is “still much work to do”.
Trump speaking at the commencement of the Board of Peace during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January. Photograph: Doug Mills/The New York Times