Israeli military strategy pivoted northward as Israel established a permanent presence on Mount Hermon in Syria, creating an 80km buffer zone south of Damascus. Defense Minister Katz declared Al-Jolani "will see us from his palace," signaling Israel's intent to prevent weapons deployments near the Golan.
Hostage negotiations in Qatar continued with limited optimism, as Hamas showed "readiness" for a longer ceasefire while Israel's delegation operated under a restricted mandate. Released hostage Omer Neutra gave his first detailed account of 197 days in isolation during captivity, describing severe abuse.
In a significant diplomatic development, Israel began direct negotiations with Lebanon on border disputes through US-French mediation, releasing five Lebanese detainees as a goodwill gesture to Lebanon's new president. The agreement established three working groups to address contested border points.
The coalition pushed ahead with judicial selection committee reforms, prompting opposition parties to file 71,023 objections—symbolically referencing October 7, 2023.