Archive August 2, 2025

Hamas denies it expressed willingness to disarm, slams Witkoff’s Gaza trip

Hamas has refuted reports that it is ready to disarm while Israel and Gaza are negotiating a ceasefire, insisting that it has the “national and legal” right to protest Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory.

The Palestinian organization responded on Saturday to comments made by Steve Witkoff, the special representative of US President Donald Trump, during a meeting with Israeli prisoners’ families in Gaza.

According to an interview with Haaretz, the US envoy told the families that Hamas had stated that it was “prepared to be demilitarized.”

Hamas claimed in a statement that “the resistance and its weapons are a national and legal right as long as the Israeli occupation continues.”

That right, according to the statement, “cannot be relinquished until our full national rights are restored, particularly the establishment of a Palestinian state that is fully independent and sovereign with Jerusalem as its capital.”

One day after visiting a US and Israeli-backed aid distribution facility run by the contentious GHF in Gaza, Witkoff met the captive Israelis’ families in Tel Aviv on Saturday.

Prior to the US envoy’s trip, Hamas had criticized the US envoy’s portrayal of a “staged show” intended to deceive the public into thinking the area’s residents were “in the dark” about the situation there, where an Israeli blockade has caused a starvation crisis and sparked international outcry.

Since GHF-operated in the bombarded Palestinian territory in May, more than 1,300 Palestinians have died trying to get food at GHF-run sites, according to a statement released earlier this week.

Despite the more frequent and unfavorable criticism of GHF’s operations in Gaza, the Trump administration has steadfastly supported the organization. Washington announced in June that it had approved funding for GHF in the amount of $30 million.

In addition to the widening international push to recognize a Palestinian state amid the scenes of starvation in Gaza, Witkoff’s remarks on disarmament come at a time when there is a growing hunger in the world.

This week, the United Kingdom made the announcement that it might recognize a Palestinian state as the country’s response to France’s two-day UN conference in New York.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy reiterated earlier that Israel would proceed with recognition if it violated a ceasefire in Gaza, in response to a statement made by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

A seven-page text on reviving a two-state solution to the conflict was also supported by 17 nations at the UN summit, along with the European Union and the Arab League.

Hull three behind leader Yamashita at Women’s Open

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Third-round leaderboard for the AIG Women’s Open 2025

-9 Yamashita (Jpn), -8 AL Kim (Kor), -7 A Lee (US)

others were screened.

-6 Hull (Eng), Katsu (Jpn), Khang (US), Takeda (Jpn), -4 Hall (Eng), -3 Rhodes (Eng), Woad (Eng), -2 M Lee (Aus), E Harry (Wal), Ko (NZ), Korda (US)

Before Sunday’s Women’s Open finale at Royal Porthcawl, England’s Charley Hull shot a stunning six-under-par 66 to lie three shots clear of Miyu Yamashita.

By the third round’s halfway point, Yamashita’s three-shot lead had been squandered due to her two-over 74.

After both of their Saturday carded rounds of 67, South Korean A Lim Kim is second on eight under while American Andrea Lee is a shot further back in third.

After two rounds, Yamashita was three shots clear of a group in third place as she celebrated her 24th birthday on Saturday.

Although a large portion of the chasing pack attempted to put pressure on themselves before the Japanese duo teed off, the final group shot low themselves, which would have rendered the effort pointless.

However, they only managed one birdie in the first ten holes, and Yamashita’s lead was shortened by one stroke when she bogeyed the 10th.

The cushion was saved by subsequent birdies at the 11th and 12th, but Yamashita dropped two more shots heading home and it took a fantastic long-range putt to par on the 17th to ensure she would continue to lead the tournament as a solo player into the final round.

I find chasing to be more enjoyable because of it.

Hull hasn’t yet won one of her sport’s biggest prizes, despite having won several close calls at previous majors.

After a solitary bogey at the 14th hole, she made four pars to finish with a round of 66, which is Hull’s joint-lowest round at a Women’s Open.

The 2023 Women’s Open runner-up said, “I hit it in the bunker on the first and did a good up-and-down there.” Besides the final hole, I just made birdies when I had the chance to make one.

Three more English players are in the lead before the final round is even six shots away.

Georgia Hall, the 2018 Women’s Open champion, rose another player’s way up the leaderboard as a result of a quick start.

Hall also carded a four-under 68 at the 14th, and she followed that up with another bogey at the 15th.

She said, “Of course, I’m very happy with my round, but I think I let some things go at the end.”

It could use some improvement, I believe. We’ll see what happens and where I am if I can start tomorrow, as I did today.

Following rounds of 71 and 70, respectively, Lottie Woad and Mimi Rhodes are both three under for the championship and just outside the top 10.

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Hull three behind leader Yamashita at Women’s Open

JavaScript must be enabled in your browser to play this video.

  • 47 Comments

Third-round leaderboard for the AIG Women’s Open 2025

-9 Yamashita (Jpn), -8 AL Kim (Kor), -7 A Lee (US)

others were screened.

-6 Hull (Eng), Katsu (Jpn), Khang (US), Takeda (Jpn), -4 Hall (Eng), -3 Rhodes (Eng), Woad (Eng), -2 M Lee (Aus), E Harry (Wal), Ko (NZ), Korda (US)

Before Sunday’s Women’s Open finale at Royal Porthcawl, England’s Charley Hull shot a stunning six-under-par 66 to lie three shots clear of Miyu Yamashita.

By the third round’s halfway point, Yamashita’s three-shot lead had been squandered due to her two-over 74.

After both of their Saturday carded rounds of 67, South Korean A Lim Kim is second on eight under while American Andrea Lee is a shot further back in third.

After two rounds, Yamashita was three shots clear of a group in third place as she celebrated her 24th birthday on Saturday.

Although a large portion of the chasing pack attempted to put pressure on themselves before the Japanese duo teed off, the final group shot low themselves, which would have rendered the effort pointless.

However, they only managed one birdie in the first ten holes, and Yamashita’s lead was shortened by one stroke when she bogeyed the 10th.

The cushion was saved by subsequent birdies at the 11th and 12th, but Yamashita dropped two more shots heading home and it took a fantastic long-range putt to par on the 17th to ensure she would continue to lead the tournament as a solo player into the final round.

I find chasing to be more enjoyable because of it.

Hull hasn’t yet won one of her sport’s biggest prizes, despite having won several close calls at previous majors.

After a solitary bogey at the 14th hole, she made four pars to finish with a round of 66, which is Hull’s joint-lowest round at a Women’s Open.

The 2023 Women’s Open runner-up said, “I hit it in the bunker on the first and did a good up-and-down there.” Besides the final hole, I just made birdies when I had the chance to make one.

Three more English players are in the lead before the final round is even six shots away.

Georgia Hall, the 2018 Women’s Open champion, rose another player’s way up the leaderboard as a result of a quick start.

Hall also carded a four-under 68 at the 14th, and she followed that up with another bogey at the 15th.

She said, “Of course, I’m very happy with my round, but I think I let some things go at the end.”

It could use some improvement, I believe. We’ll see what happens and where I am if I can start tomorrow, as I did today.

Following rounds of 71 and 70, respectively, Lottie Woad and Mimi Rhodes are both three under for the championship and just outside the top 10.

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  • Golf

Palestinian boy, 17, dies of Israel-induced starvation in Gaza

According to medical officials and family members, a Palestinian teenager who has never had any prior medical conditions has died in Gaza after being taken into the besieged enclave as a result of Israel’s ongoing blockade of aid.

Atef Abu Khater, 17, passed away on Saturday, according to a source at Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital.

His family estimated that his weight, which should be considered the same as a nine-year-old child, had dropped from 70 to 55 pounds when he passed away.

“His family and others who knew him have told us that he once was a regional sports champion.” He eventually lost a lot of weight, developed acute malnourishment, and passed away, according to Hani Mahmoud of Al Jazeera from Gaza City.

“He was just one of Gaza’s many severe malnutrition cases,” he said.

Abu Khater’s family members were seen saying goodbye in video that was shared online and verified by Al Jazeera. The boy’s emaciated body was visible in an open white body bag with his face facing the camera in it.

He appeared gaunt, and his cheekbones protruded without any fat. Due to malnourishment, a relative could be seen running his finger along each bone on the boy’s ribcage.

Before he passed away, Abu Khater was declared by journalist Wisam Shabat, who posted the video on his Instagram account, in a critical condition with severe complications after receiving no food or medical care.

According to the director of al-Shifa Hospital, the 17-year-old is one of at least seven Palestinians who have passed away from malnutrition in Gaza over the past 24 hours.

According to the most recent data from the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 169 Palestinians have perished in the territory as a result of starvation and malnutrition since Israel’s war started in October 2023.

Palestinians are now starving and unable to feed their families, according to UN and other humanitarian organizations, despite Israeli restrictions on humanitarian aid deliveries, which have been partially lifted recently.

Israel has stated that it is increasing aid deliveries to Palestinians, including via airdrops, as a result of the growing international condemnation of the crisis.

However, humanitarian organizations have called for Israel to open all border crossings into Gaza to allow the flow of aid freely between Palestinians in need. They claim airdrops are dangerous and ineffective.

UNRWA’s head of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, stated on Saturday that “the deliberate attempts to replace” UN aid systems with a contentious, US and Israeli-backed group called the GHF have largely contributed to the man-made famine in Gaza.

Palestinians who attempt to access GHF-run distribution centers in Gaza have been regularly shot by Israeli forces, and more than 1,300 aid seekers have been killed since the organization’s operation began in May have been reported this week by the UN.

In what he called “a deliberate measure to collectively pressure and punish Palestinians for living in Gaza,” Lazzarini also accused Israel of actively preventing the UN and other humanitarian organizations from providing life-saving aid to Palestinians.

The UNRWA head said in a post on X that “there is no time to waste,” and that a political decision must be made to make the crossings completely open.

Children “dealing slowly”

In Gaza, thousands of Palestinian families are searching for food and other urgently needed supplies in the interim.

According to Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary, who was reporting from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza on Saturday, many people, including children, are “dying slowly due to forced starvation by Israel.”

Misk al-Madhoun, a five-year-old malnourished child whose parents are unable to provide for her, is one of them. They claim that every day, she slowly passes away, according to Khoudary, adding that parents are giving their kids everything they can.

We’ve met mothers who, she said, don’t have other options but instead give their babies water instead of milk.

Palestinian parents are also still frequently seen searching for hot meal locations or distribution points by walking very far in the heat. They run the risk of being killed, hurt, or returned home empty-handed, even if they visit the GHF sites.

The “worst-case scenario of famine” was emerging in Gaza on Tuesday, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a global hunger monitoring system.

According to the most recent data, famine thresholds have been exceeded for the majority of the Gaza Strip’s food consumption and for Gaza City’s acute malnourishment, according to a report.

Packer’s fast start and early exit increases England back-row intrigue

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Marlie Packer smiled as she returned to the dressing room at home with her young son leading the charge, her new fiancee by her side, and the evening sun on her back.

However, it might not have been as broad as it could have been.

Packer was present throughout England’s 97-7 victory over Spain for an hour. striking lines and avoiding opponents, cantering in the open, and pounding the hardest in the tight.

Head coach John Mitchell praised her performance as “outstanding” and added, “She plays the game like a fire when you see her play it that way.”

On the day of the game, Packer had stated that this game had a significant impact.

Not necessarily the stage or the opponents, either.

In front of more crowds than the 5, 286 who took one stand at Welford Road, England will face stronger opponents than Spain, which has lost.

However, one of only four survivors from England’s success at the 2014 tournament, Emily Scarratt, Alex Matthews, and Natasha Hunt, was in awe of being given the captaincy, albeit for one afternoon in Zoe Aldcroft’s absence, on the verge of a home World Cup.

Packer’s afternoon was spelled with a clumsy clearout by Claudia Pena, which was not malicious.

Getty

Other back-row contenders for the World Cup starting XV can put a distance between themselves and Packer if she is suspended, which a panel will convene and decide in the coming days.

You can tell Marlie’s intentions weren’t there, Mitchell said, regrettably.

We’ll take whatever we can get on the chin and move on, according to the game, “Unfortunately the game sets high standards in that area,” and I suppose we’ll end up trying to protect players.

Number eight Maddie Feaunati, an X-factor runner of raw pace and power, had another impressive performance, dispersing Spain’s defenders occasionally like skittles.

The third row’s starting back row member, Abi Burton, remained obscure despite the enormous amount of unwatched work.

Aldcroft is a certain starter, who is also on the squad. Alex Matthews is a top choice for Mitchell because of her unwavering quality and enormous engine.

With significantly more miles on the clock and a different game in mind, Packer is unable to match Sadia Kabeya’s fetching ability.

Harrison ranks 10 out of 10.

Zoe HarrisonGetty Images

Spain is the best country in Europe outside of the Six Nations. However, they are still a few streets away from England, who are the dominant force in the world.

Mitchell was more concerned with the performance and fitness of his squad than the match’s outcome when facing such weak opponents.

Zoe Harrison, who suffered a first-half knee injury, frightened him, but she recovered to pull strings and pick passes pass pass wisely at 10 a.

Even if Megan Jones’ partnership with Jade Shekells didn’t quite work out as planned, she still managed to make a powerful impact in midfield.

Before it becomes clear whether a hat-trick will make her England’s backline home, the versatile Helena Rowland will have to face more stern opposition.

As she took her try, Jess Breach’s top-end pace, which she would have over Rowland, was clearly evident on the other side of the pitch, but there were also errors.

Sarah Bern, the prop, exceled in second row, Abbie Ward, and full-back Emma Sing grew into the game, zipping over for a touchdown and kicking superbly for the posts after Harrison had left.

Mitchell has plenty of room to reflect as he travels across the Channel for England’s upcoming second warm-up game against France.

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  • Rugby Union
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