"Israel-Hamas Conflict: IDF Consolidates Control as Hamas Leader Evades Capture"

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that more than half of Hamas fighters have been killed or wounded, emphasizing that Israel is committed to achieving "total victory" and will not stop the war without achieving this goal. Cease-fire talks are ongoing, but no deal is near, and Netanyahu stated that Israel will not agree to Hamas' demands. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on a Middle East trip to broker a deal to halt the bloodshed in Gaza and return hostages to Israel, and the U.S. did not notify Iraq ahead of time about Friday's airstrikes on Iraqi and Syrian territory against Iran-backed militias. Hamas forces are reportedly reestablishing their presence in northern Gaza following Israel's withdrawal of some troops.