Gaza ceasefire talks falter amid airstrikes

On July 15, 2026, an Israeli airstrike killed a man, his wife, and their six-year-old daughter in Deir Al-Balah, Gaza, as talks to advance the U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire deal faltered. The Israeli military said the strike targeted a Hamas militant. Another airstrike in Gaza City killed one person. The deaths add to a toll of more than 1,100 Palestinians killed since the October ceasefire. The truce halted major fighting but has failed to stop near-daily Israeli strikes. Hamas leaders wrapped up another round of truce talks in Cairo on Tuesday, mediated by Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar, aimed at implementing the second phase of President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan. The talks included disarmament of Hamas and Israeli withdrawal, but little progress was made. The second phase also includes a Palestinian technocratic committee assuming power, deployment of an international security force, and reconstruction of Gaza. Five countries—Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Albania—have committed troops to the U.S.-backed International Stabilization Force, but none have deployed. Nickolay Mladenov, Board of Peace envoy, said he would visit Morocco to sign its contribution. Hamas official Bassem Naim accused Mladenov of supporting Israel's position. Israel has slowly moved troops forward, now occupying over 60% of the strip. Hamas says it cannot advance to phase two until phase one terms are fulfilled.