Israel strikes Gaza, killing top Hamas commander

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the killing of Muhammad Basm Muhammad Mustaha, commander of the Al-Qassam Brigades' Akhras Battalion, in an airstrike in northern Gaza. Mustaha was accused of involvement in holding hostages during and after the October 7 attacks.

Amid ongoing military operations, a proposed Gaza agreement by Nikolai Mladenov suggests a path toward stability through the phased disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups in exchange for the eventual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. The proposal aims to establish new leadership focused on coexistence, though concerns remain regarding the potential for tactical pauses in hostilities rather than permanent peace.