Two IDF soldiers were killed in separate incidents in Rafah. Sergeant Yishai Eliakim Orbach, 20, died when a building collapsed after RPG fire, while Staff Sergeant Yam Fried, 21, was killed when his armored vehicle exploded. Four additional soldiers were seriously wounded.
Former hostage Eli-ah Cohen revealed a failed escape attempt during his Gaza captivity when militants temporarily abandoned him during Israeli bombing.
US Ambassador Mike Huckabee announced a new humanitarian aid plan for Gaza that will operate without direct IDF involvement, emphasizing this was "most urgent" for President Trump.
In the early afternoon, the Houthis fired a missile at central Israel - their first attack since Israel's strikes on Yemen. The Arrow-3 defense system successfully intercepted it, while Defense Minister Katz promised a forceful response.
The Supreme Court rejected Netanyahu aide Yonatan Aurich's appeal, keeping him detained in the expanding "Qatargate" scandal, with evidence suggesting he received Qatari funds throughout the war.