Tony Blair Meets Netanyahu, Herzog to Advance Gaza Plan

Former British Prime Minister and Peace Council member Tony Blair met Thursday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog in Israel. Blair is also scheduled to meet with National Unity Party Chairman Gadi Eisenkot on Friday. The purpose of these meetings is to advance a plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, in light of the evolving political landscape in Israel. Blair's meeting with Eisenkot is also intended as an introductory encounter.

Meanwhile, Palestinian media reported that four Palestinians, including a child and a woman, were killed in Israeli strikes in central and southern Gaza. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital told Al Jazeera that two people died in Israeli strikes in the town of Al-Zawayda, including one in an overnight air strike on a tent for displaced people and another in a drone strike later in the day. The Nasser Medical Center in Khan Younis reported a woman killed by IDF fire in the Al-Mawasi area. A child was reportedly killed by IDF fire in the Al-Bureij refugee camp, according to Al-Awda Hospital.

Separately, a report in Haaretz this week indicated that the IDF believes its operational achievements in Gaza are diminishing, with signs of gradual rebuilding of Hamas's military wing. The army estimates Hamas has restored some of its production capabilities and currently possesses hundreds of rockets, mostly short- or medium-range. The military estimates Hamas has around 30,000 armed operatives. While much of the organization's weapons industry has been destroyed, the IDF notes that smuggling through various routes is filling the gap created by difficulties in domestic production. Security sources stated that a significant portion of the smuggled equipment originates from within Israel, with Israeli criminals allegedly collaborating with security force elements for substantial sums to facilitate the infiltration of goods into the Strip.