Hamas announced on Friday that it had agreed to disarm, marking a potentially major step toward ending the conflict in Gaza. However, significant obstacles remain, and it is uncertain whether the agreement will ultimately be implemented. Israel has not yet responded publicly to the announcement, which was first revealed by President Donald Trump just hours earlier. The development comes nine months after a U.S.-mediated ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was signed.
President Trump is holding Friday's Cabinet meeting at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland, marking the first Cabinet gathering there during his second term. A previous attempt to convene at Camp David in May was canceled due to poor weather conditions.
On Thursday, Trump indicated that he may withdraw acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's nomination for the permanent position rather than accept Senate Republicans' demands related to a broad tax audit immunity agreement that would benefit both the president and his family members.
Zelenskyy seeks Trump's support for expanded Starlink access
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Trump and other U.S. officials to help secure expanded access to Elon Musk's Starlink satellite communication network for Ukraine, with the goal of improving its ability to conduct operations inside Russia.
The request reflects Ukraine's efforts to reduce its dependence on U.S.-supplied Patriot air defense systems, which have become increasingly scarce as the conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran continues. On Friday, Trump also appeared to soften his earlier pledge to allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot interceptors under license.
According to a source familiar with the discussions, Zelenskyy personally raised the Starlink proposal during an Oval Office meeting with Trump earlier this week. He later reiterated the request to lawmakers on Capitol Hill, emphasizing the system's potential role in targeting operations within Russia. Both individuals who disclosed the conversations spoke anonymously because the discussions were private. Trump did not commit to approving the request.
White House suggests possible new military action against Iran
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated the administration's criticism of Iran, accusing Tehran of violating a memorandum of understanding on a truce that had been signed with the United States last month. She alleged that Iran subsequently attacked commercial vessels and was responsible for the deaths of American service members.
Leavitt stated that President Trump would not tolerate what she described as Iran's continued terrorist activities and warned that the country would face ongoing consequences unless it engaged in meaningful negotiations.
Her remarks followed Trump's comments earlier on Friday, in which he suggested that U.S. military operations against Iran could continue. Speaking during a Cabinet meeting, Trump said the United States intended to strike Iran forcefully until it reached a point where it could no longer sustain the conflict.
U.S. dismisses case over Reflecting Pool damage
Federal prosecutors have dropped charges against former Olympian David Hearn, who had been accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Government attorneys said that evidence gathered after the indictment showed the damage was caused by improper installation by the contractor and the accelerated pace of the construction project, rather than Hearn's actions.