Hadil Al-Shalchi

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered all soldiers running Galatz Radio to be reassigned to other military units as part of his decision to suspend the station.

The Israeli military said the decision was part of a, quote, worrying pattern to harm Israeli democracy.

Galatz is a military-run broadcaster whose editorial leadership is appointed through the defense establishment.

but has been known to air critical stories about the military.

The Galatz Employees Committee called the decision, quote, painful and said it was going to appeal in court.

Israeli journalists condemned the suspension and said this was the latest example of the government's attempts to clamp down on freedom of speech.

Hadil Al-Shalchi, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

Palestinian first responders say the mortar exploded in the air and shrapnel hit the central Gaza city neighborhood of Al-Samir.

Mahmoud Bassal is the spokesman for the Gaza civil defense.

If it had exploded on the ground, Bassal said, it would have been a catastrophe.

The Israeli military said that the mortar fired had, quote, deviated from its target.

It said it was investigating the incident, which they said occurred in the area of the yellow line that divides the Israeli-held portions of Gaza,

from the rest of the territory.

The ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel was brokered in October.

Israeli attacks since the deal have killed over 390 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.

Hadil Al-Shalchi, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

Hamas chief Khalil Al-Hayya announced that Commander Ra'ed Saad, who Israel considers the second in command of the group's military arm, was killed by an Israeli strike.

He confirmed the news in a speech marking the 38th anniversary of the group's formation.

Al-Hayya used the speech to outline what he called the accomplishments of the October 7, 2023 attacks.

He called them a form of resistance that restored the Palestinian cause,