Overview
- Qatar’s prime minister called the truce a critical moment as phase one nears completion, with searches in Gaza City’s Zeitoun area resuming for the body of Sgt. Ran Gvili.
- Benjamin Netanyahu, alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, said Israel expects to move soon to phase two to demilitarize Gaza and disarm Hamas, with a meeting with President Trump expected by month’s end.
- Hamas official Bassem Naim said the group is ready to discuss freezing or storing its arsenal as part of the ceasefire arrangement.
- Hamas negotiator Khalil al Hayya said disarmament would occur only to a sovereign Palestinian state after full Israeli withdrawal and rejected tasking an international force with disarming militants.
- Unresolved disputes include the International Stabilization Force’s command and makeup—Turkey has offered troops but Israel objects—while Israel’s army chief described the “yellow line” as a new border, fueling concerns of a lasting division in Gaza.