Overview
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office denied approving safe passage for roughly 200 Hamas fighters in Rafah, after reports suggested a conditional transfer was under consideration and as hardline ministers publicly opposed any release.
- Egyptian, Qatari and US mediators are discussing proposals to move the trapped fighters to Hamas-held areas under Red Cross escort with heavy weapons left behind, though Israel has not delivered a final decision, according to sources.
- Official Palestinian media reported new Israeli air strikes in Gaza City and fatal incidents near Rafah despite the ceasefire, while the IDF said it targeted militants who crossed the yellow line and posed immediate threats to troops.
- Gaza’s Health Ministry said a transfer of 45 bodies raised the total number of Palestinian remains returned by Israel to about 270, with only around 78 identified so far, and Hamas said it located the body of an Israeli soldier in Shejaia for handover.
- About 200 US personnel are monitoring the truce from southern Israel, and Washington has circulated a draft UN Security Council resolution to establish a two-year international stabilisation force for Gaza.