Overview
- Hamas has formally rejected Israel's proposal for a 45-day ceasefire, citing disarmament demands as a red line it will not cross.
- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed that Israeli forces will indefinitely remain in newly established security buffer zones in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited northern Gaza, reiterating Israel's commitment to intensifying military pressure until all hostages are returned and Hamas is defeated.
- Hamas claims to have lost contact with the captors of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander following an Israeli strike, raising fears about his fate.
- The United Nations and humanitarian organizations warn of worsening conditions in Gaza, with over 51,000 Palestinians killed and 90% of the population displaced since the conflict began.