In a forceful address from Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outlined ironclad prerequisites for nuclear talks with Iran, linking them directly to the volatile situation in Gaza. Any deal, he insisted, must strip away nuclear materials, ban uranium enrichment, and curb ballistic missile programs – measures he doubts Tehran will honor.
Fresh from consultations with President Trump, Netanyahu praised the US leader’s commitment to a breakthrough deal. Yet, doubts linger. Israel aims to evolve its US ties into equal partnership, investing heavily in homegrown defense capabilities to stand tall against foes.
On the Gaza front, Netanyahu highlighted demolition of vast Hamas tunnel networks – 150 km out of 500 – and stressed completing the mission by rooting out rearmament sites. ‘We’re testing the ceasefire,’ he said, ‘but Hamas’s elimination justifies restarting operations if needed.’
Sunday’s death toll paints a grim picture: Gaza’s civil defense confirmed 11 Palestinians killed in airstrikes, revising an initial count of nine. Key incidents included a deadly drone strike on Islamic Jihad operative Sami al-Dahdouh in western Gaza City, wounding others. Three were gravely hurt in a Bet Lahia drone attack.
Earlier strikes obliterated a Jabalia displacement tent and a Khan Younis assembly, claiming 10 lives. Shelling ravaged Sheikh Zayed and Al-Tuffah areas. No Israeli response to Sunday’s actions yet, though Saturday saw IDF troops strike terrorists surfacing from bunkers, labeling it a truce breach.
Cumulative data since the 2025 ceasefire: 601 dead, 1,607 injured. Hamas decried Israeli ‘genocide.’ Netanyahu’s speech weaves Iran’s nuclear shadow with Gaza’s unrest, positioning Israel for unyielding defense in a hostile neighborhood.