The Day of the Qassam Commander's Funeral

The day was dominated by the assassination and funeral of Mohammed Audeh, the new Qassam Brigades commander. Early reports confirmed his killing in an Israeli strike on al-Rimal, with Hamas calling for mass participation in his funeral. By morning, 140,000 worshippers attended Eid al-Adha prayers at Al-Aqsa despite restrictions, while Gaza observed the holiday amid mourning and deprivation. In the afternoon, a large funeral procession took place in Gaza City, with Hamas vowing resistance would continue. An evening airstrike on a residential apartment killed seven, including two Qassam operatives, as Israel continued targeting the group's leadership. Other stories included Israel's renewed 'voluntary emigration' plan and a leaked US-Iran draft agreement, but the editorial focus remained on the commander's death and its aftermath.