Released hostage Naama Levy broke her silence, revealing 50 days of solitary confinement, while families received confirmation that eight hostages from phase A would not return alive. Trump's scheduled meeting with Netanyahu generated conflicting reports about timing, as his envoy Witkoff prepared for crucial phase B negotiations.
Three political ultimatums emerged by afternoon: Deri demanded ultra-Orthodox draft law within two months or new elections, Religious Zionism opposed further hostage deals, and the US pressed for Palestinian civilian return to northern Gaza. The day ended in tragedy when IDF forces mistakenly killed Kobi Avitan, a Defense Ministry contractor, in the Netzarim corridor.
Reports of US transfer of Patriot missiles from Israel to Ukraine surfaced, while Saudi-Israel normalization talks showed progress according to diplomatic sources.