Israeli strikes kill 18 in Gaza as minister rejects US-backed ceasefire deal

Israeli airstrikes across multiple regions of Gaza killed at least 15 to 17 Palestinians on August 2, striking residential areas in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and Khan Younis. Hours later, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir publicly rejected a US-backed draft peace agreement designed to disarm Hamas and facilitate a gradual Israeli withdrawal, calling the deal “unacceptable.” What happened on the ground The strikes predominantly hit residential neighborhoods, according to Palestinian health officials and reporting from Reuters and Al Jazeera. The targeted areas, Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and Khan Younis, are communities that have already endured repeated rounds of violence. According to Gaza health authorities, cumulative Palestinian deaths since a previously declared ceasefire in October 2025 have now surpassed 1,230. That ceasefire, brokered with significant US involvement, was supposed to be a turning point. It was not. The political dimension Ben-Gvir’s rejection of the US-backed draft deal is significant not just for what it says, but for who is saying it. As National Security Minister, he holds a cabinet position with direct influence over Israeli security poli...