⌨The day's dominant story was the assassination of Mohammed Odeh, Hamas's new military chief, just 10 days after his predecessor. Reports emerged overnight, with Hamas-affiliated media confirming the death by early morning. Defense Minister Katz officially confirmed the strike, and the IDF released footage. Editors framed the killing as the fourth decapitation of Hamas's military wing since October 7, underscoring Israel's continued targeting of the group's leadership.
In parallel, the coalition crisis deepened as the Knesset advanced a daycare subsidy bill for Haredi draft-dodgers, passing a preliminary reading despite opposition from Religious Zionism. Haredi parties threatened to support a state commission of inquiry into October 7 if the bill stalled.
On the northern front, Hezbollah drone and rocket attacks persisted, with Israel issuing sweeping evacuation orders for southern Lebanon. The US reportedly vetoed Israeli strikes on Beirut's Dahiyeh, a restriction Katz acknowledged publicly.
By evening, Trump linked the Iran deal to the Abraham Accords, threatening to withhold an agreement unless Saudi Arabia and Qatar joined. The White House denied Iranian claims of a draft deal, calling them a 'complete fabrication.'