The terrorist organization is not truly prepared to give up power as long as it refuses to disarm. The proposed framework seeks to place responsibility for dealing with the chaos in Gaza on a technocratic committee, while Hamas frees itself to continue rebuilding its military capabilities. Despite many eliminations, a group of senior Hamas officials in Gaza has survived so far, and does not intend to relinquish its light weapons or tunnels.

Overnight, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired at least two missiles at vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, hitting a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker near the coast of Oman. Hours later, a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker was also hit in the same area. Meanwhile, the funeral procession for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei reached the city of Qom, where crowds chanted “Death to America” during a prayer ceremony at the mosque.

Leaders of the 32 member states of the North Atlantic alliance are gathering in Turkey amid strained relations and a US demand to raise the defense spending threshold to 5% of GDP: "Europe will take responsibility for the conventional defense of the continent."

Hamas’ announcement that it is prepared to transfer civilian rule is an inevitable step from its perspective, meant to advance civilian aid and reconstruction. But it does not amount to relinquishing its military power or the many centers of influence it maintains over the population. The Gaza front must remain active until Israel achieves all the goals it has set there.

French President Emmanuel Macron landed in Damascus for a meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, in the first visit by a French president to the country in 17 years. Macron will then continue to a NATO summit in Ankara, where he will meet with Erdogan.