Overview
- The Israeli military ended a weeklong reduction in announced strikes and said it carried out a drone/air operation in Beit Lahiya that it described as targeting a Hamas commander, reporting the move was to remove a threat to troops.
- The Beit Lahiya strike, reported by Gaza medics and civil defence, hit a tuk-tuk and killed municipal worker Mohanad Saada while wounding several others, hospitals said.
- On Thursday a drone strike in Gaza City killed police colonel Jamal Abu Kamil; the IDF called him a Hamas commander and Gaza’s police force denied that characterization.
- Health facilities in Gaza reported multiple wounded brought in after the recent strikes and the territory’s health ministry said at least 45 people had died since August 1, highlighting rising civilian harm.
- Diplomatic pressure from the White House had briefly reduced Israel’s announced raids under President Trump’s Board of Peace proposal but Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected the plan and the resumption of strikes complicates disarmament, withdrawal and stabilization talks.