Overview
- Talks in Cairo among Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the United States discussed a phase-two plan centered on disarming Hamas, including a proposal to allow fighters to retain only light arms temporarily before handing them to a new security force, with possible integration of non-Hamas personnel.
- Despite the truce framework, Israel announced the killing of Abdel Raouf Ishtiya, accused in a 2024 vehicular attack in Nablus, and Gaza’s health ministry reports more than 300 Palestinians killed since the ceasefire took effect, underscoring persistent breaches.
- Lebanon faces rising strain as Egypt backs confining weapons to the state and implementing UN Resolution 1701, Iran’s adviser Ali Akbar Velayati defends Hezbollah’s armament, Lebanese officials push back, and reporting points to an Israeli warning that force could follow if Hezbollah is not disarmed, alongside new Israeli fortifications in the south.
- Sudan’s peace push falters with visible discord inside the Port Sudan authority, including a foreign minister’s on-camera retraction, as army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan rejects a U.S.-backed ‘quadrilateral’ plan and RSF leader Hemeti signals conditional acceptance with a unilateral three-month truce.
- Regional crosscurrents intensify as President Donald Trump initiates steps to designate certain Muslim Brotherhood branches, prompting debate in Jordan, and the UAE says its ‘Al-Faris Al-Sahim 3’ operation has sent more than 8,700 trucks carrying 1.6 million aid parcels to Gaza.