As per reports, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has introduced a plan for Gaza, under which civil administration of the strip would be passed along to unnamed local Palestinian players, and Israel would retain the ability to carry out military activities.

Israeli Defence Minister also reported that roughly 80000 Israelis have been evacuated from northern towns amid back-and-forth shelling with armed groups in southern Lebanon.

• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to visit five Arab countries, including the West Bank, Turkey and Greece, in addition to a previously announced stop in Israel.
• Israeli forces searched houses in the Nour al-Shams refugee camp in the occupied West Bank city of Tulkarm on Thursday (04 January), detaining hundreds of people suspected of militant activities.
• US official Amos Hochstein met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to discuss tensions on the border with Lebanon, since Israel continues to hint at the possibility of further military escalation.
• Houthis continue to carry out attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, with the US Navy reporting a failed attack by a drone boat packed with explosives on Thursday (04 January).
• Israel’s military is intensifying its operations in central and southern Gaza, including the Khan Younis area, where the Hamas-controlled health ministry stated that at least 22 people were killed by an Israeli airstrike.
• The Israel Defense Forces has expanded operations in central and southern Gaza, issuing a new series of evacuation instructions to Palestinians, many of whom were already displaced.
• Several Gulf Arab states on Thursday (04 January) strongly condemned comments by two Israeli ministers calling for Palestinians to emigrate from the Gaza Strip.