IDF kills Hamas commander who had held seven Israeli hostages

Key Points:

• The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the killing of Hamas commander Mahmoud Abd al-Fattah Awad in an airstrike near Gaza City; Awad was responsible for holding seven hostages in a Gaza tunnel and planning terror attacks against Israelis.
• The IDF also eliminated Muhammad Abu Alwan, head of Hamas's financial operations, in a strike in southern Gaza, with Israeli leaders vowing to continue targeting Hamas commanders and infrastructure to prevent the group from rebuilding.
• The Board of Peace highlighted progress in Gaza's peace efforts over the past year but acknowledged challenges ahead in implementing a 15-point roadmap for peace, with support from international partners including the UAE and EU.
• U.S. President Donald Trump praised recent diplomatic advances at the United Nations General Assembly, noting the end of the Gaza war and the return of hostages, and thanked the UN Security Council for adopting a comprehensive peace plan.
• Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Hamas against kidnapping Israeli soldiers or civilians, threatening large-scale evacuation and military action in Gaza City if abductions occur, and pledged to maintain IDF presence along the Gaza Strip's "Yellow Line" until demilitarization is achieved.