Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the IDF to launch “immediate and powerful strikes” against Hamas in the Gaza Strip following recent ceasefire violations, including attacks on Israeli troops that killed one soldier, and the handling of hostages’ remains. The escalation comes amid rising Israeli anger over what officials describe as repeated breaches of the ceasefire agreement by Hamas.

Five former Israeli hostages—Segev Kalfon, Bar Kuperstein, Eitan Mor, Evyatar David, and Guy Gilboa-Dalal—were discharged from hospitals and received jubilant welcomes upon returning to their homes after over two years in Hamas captivity. Kalfon, 26, was greeted by well-wishers in Dimona, where banners reading “Segev, it’s so good that you’ve come home” were displayed. The hostages had been tortured, starved, and isolated during their time in captivity.

Two Israeli soldiers — Major Yaniv Kula, 26, and Staff Sergeant Itay Yavetz, 21 — were killed and three others wounded in an attack by a Hamas cell that emerged from a tunnel in the eastern Rafah area of the Gaza Strip, threatening the current ceasefire agreement. In retaliation, the IDF launched a wave of strikes across southern and central Gaza targeting a major tunnel network used by Hamas.

In accordance with phase one of the ongoing hostage release and ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the bodies of five additional deceased hostages: Eitan Levy, Tamir Nimrodi, Uriel Baruch, Muhammad Al-Atresh, and Inbar Hayman, the last female hostage being held. In response to the delays in deceased hostage releases, Israel has postponed the reopening of the Rafah Crossing.

Crowds in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square and Jewish communities around the world celebrated as the final 20 living hostages were released by Hamas and reunited with their families after more than two years in captivity. The hostage release was part of phase one of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which also included the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and the withdrawal of Israel troops from many parts of Gaza.

The National Education Association (NEA), the largest teachers union in the U.S., sent an email to all three million members that labeled the state of Israel as “Palestine.” The map was included with links that reportedly justified or defended the October 7th attacks. Following backlash to the email, the NEA removed some of the content from its website, admitting it did not meet their standards, but did not remove the map.