Overview
- Qatar’s prime minister told the Doha Forum the current truce is only a pause and cannot become a full ceasefire without Israeli withdrawal and restored movement for civilians.
- The first-phase hostage exchange is nearly complete, with 20 living captives and 27 bodies returned to Israel and the remains of one Israeli, Ran Gvili, still unrecovered.
- White House hopes to announce the start of phase two before Christmas were reported, while President Trump said it would begin "pretty soon," without a firm timetable.
- Talks over the International Stabilization Force remain unresolved on mandate, rules of engagement and contributors; Turkey says several states want it to join but Israel opposes Turkish troops, and analysts note no country has committed forces.
- Ceasefire violations and Israeli strikes have continued, with more than 350 Palestinians killed since Oct. 10 according to Gaza authorities, aid flows have not met the 600-trucks-per-day target, and eight Muslim-majority countries condemned a one-way reopening of Rafah that would allow only departures.