Israeli forces conducted massive airstrikes in Gaza, killing at least 413 Palestinians and shattering the two-month ceasefire. The death toll climbed throughout the morning as Hamas announced its government chief was killed. Netanyahu later declared these strikes were "just the beginning."
Attention shifted midday to Trump and Putin's critical phone call. After a two-hour conversation, Putin agreed to halt attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure for 30 days, but attached conditions including demands to end Western military aid. Zelensky immediately rejected these terms, stating they showed Putin wasn't ready to end the war.
Macron responded by increasing Rafale fighter jet orders and insisting any ceasefire must be "verifiable" with Ukraine "at the table." The French press observed that Trump and Putin had effectively bypassed Kyiv in their negotiations, highlighting the changing diplomatic landscape.