31/07/2026 21:46 - Internacionales
On July 31, 2026, the world witnessed a glimmer of hope in the volatile Middle Eastern landscape. The Palestinian militant group Hamas—which has governed the Gaza Strip (a small Palestinian territory bordered by Israel, Egypt, and the Mediterranean) since 2007—confirmed its willingness to disarm as part of a historic agreement announced by former US President Donald Trump. This pact includes not only a ceasefire but also the gradual withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip and the installation of a new independent Palestinian government.
Hamas stated that the handover of its heavy weapons would occur in subsequent phases. However, they conditioned this step on the creation of a Palestinian State, a requirement that the current Israeli government flatly rejects.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres celebrated the news, calling it 'the only good news in recent days from a troubled region', and urged to apply it 'without any doubt, skepticism, or determination to undermine it.'
Despite the diplomatic progress, peace faces resistance. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called the agreement 'unacceptable' via his Telegram account, arguing that stopping the fighting 'is tantamount to accepting that Hamas prepares the next massacre.'
Paradoxically, hours after the announcement, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza left at least 1 Palestinian dead and 10 wounded, according to reports from the WAFA agency and Infobae, evidencing the fragility of the previously agreed ceasefire.
While Gaza seeks a ceasefire, the rest of the region experiences rising tensions. During the early hours of Friday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran launched drones against facilities in Kuwait, whose armed forces managed to intercept them in their airspace. Furthermore, Tehran claimed to have attacked two oil tankers in the strategic Strait of Hormuz—a vital maritime chokepoint between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman crucial for global oil transit—forcing four other vessels to turn back.
In southern Lebanon, Israeli forces destroyed an underground tunnel network belonging to Hezbollah (an Iran-backed Lebanese political party and militant group) beneath the historic Beaufort Castle. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun lamented that these movements send 'negative messages' ahead of upcoming negotiations in Rome.
To counter maritime instability, Saudi Arabia announced a defensive alliance of 14 countries to protect freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and secure international trade routes.
To understand the magnitude of this agreement, it is vital to remember the origin of the current conflict, which erupted following Hamas' surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023:
| Key Data | Amount |
|---|---|
| Fatalities in the initial attack on Israel (10/07/2023) | 1,221 people |
| Kidnapped hostages | 251 people |
| Palestinians killed in Israeli retaliation | Over 73,000 people |
Sources consulted: Deutsche Welle, Clarín, Infobae and Vatican News.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
