Morning reports documented a massacre at Rafah food distribution sites, with 85 Palestinians killed while queuing for aid. The U.S. vetoed a UN Security Council ceasefire resolution, drawing condemnation from Hamas despite support from 14 other members.
Israeli strikes killed four journalists at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, adding to a death toll of 225 media workers. Former Defense Minister Liberman revealed Netanyahu's orders to secretly arm criminal gangs in Gaza, providing weapons and money to clan-based groups allegedly linked to ISIS. Netanyahu's office acknowledged the strategy as necessary to "eliminate Hamas."
Hamas prepared an updated response to the Wittcoff ceasefire proposal within 24 hours, with leader Al-Hiyya clarifying the movement remained ready for negotiations and governance handover. The day concluded with Israeli bombardment of Beirut's southern suburbs and Yemeni strikes on Tel Aviv, expanding the regional conflict beyond Gaza's borders.