Netanyahu erupted in court, pounding the witness stand when instructed to hurry testimony, shouting prosecutors "took our lives" before the judge demanded he "lower his tone." In military developments, the IDF appointed Major General Yaniv Assor as Southern Command chief, who prioritized "destroying Hamas completely" before returning hostages.
Reports emerged about Israel seeking normalization with Lebanon through border negotiations that began yesterday, promptly denied by Lebanese officials. Trump reversed his earlier Gaza population transfer stance, declaring "no one is expelling anyone from Gaza."
The day's most significant development came in the evening with confirmation of first signs of life from hostage Avinatan Or, partner of previously freed Noa Argamani, 523 days after his capture. Released hostages reported Or is held in central Gaza under harsh conditions with minimal food and water.
A shooting attack near Ariel wounded an Israeli teenager after the attacker used a laser to blind him before firing.