NPR News: 07-04-2026 3PM EDT

Jeanine Herbst· Host0:01

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. The Palestinian militant group Hamas says the Gaza Strip should remain central to any long-term ceasefire between Iran, the US, and Israel. This as Tehran hosts a belated funeral for its former supreme leader, who was killed by US and Israeli strikes four months ago. NPR's Emily Fang has more.

Emily Fang0:22

Speaking to a Hamas-affiliated paper, Khaled Al-Qadumi, Hamas' representative in Tehran, said he'd been reassured by Iranian officials that securing the rights of Palestinians was central to guaranteeing, quote, "Genuine or lasting peace in the Middle East." His remarks highlight the risk of a shaky US and Iranian ceasefire collapsing. Despite a preliminary ceasefire agreement with the US, Iran continues to stop ships from freely sailing through the Strait of Hormuz, and the US and Iran exchanged strikes against one another just a week ago. The Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah has also threatened to retaliate against Israel as Israel continues to occupy much of southern Lebanon. Emily Fang, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

Jeanine Herbst· Host1:03

The World Health Organization is declaring the hantavirus outbreak officially over. NPR's Jonathan Lambert has more.

Jonathan Lambert1:11

The outbreak was first reported in early May when passengers aboard the MV Hondias cruise ship tested positive for hantavirus. The disease can be deadly. Typically, humans get the virus through exposure to rodent urine, feces, or saliva. But the outbreak on the cruise ship sparked concern that it might be spreading more readily through