The 55th Brigade has left Khan Yunis after two months of operations in the town during which 70 tunnel shafts were dismantled and numerous terrorist operatives were eliminated.

President Biden is expected to sign off on sanctions on Judea and Samaria residents involved in violent attacks against Palestinians.

Elisha Medan, an IDF reservist who lost both his legs, met the PM and asked him not to stop the fighting against Hamas and asked that Israel not return to the pre-war reality.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the executive order imposing sanctions on Judea and Samaria who 'carried out violence against Palestinians': "The overwhelming majority of Judea and Samaria residents are law-abiding citizens, many of them are currently fighting in active and reserve duty to defend Israel."Israel acts against all lawbreakers everywhere, and therefore there is no place for special steps on the matter."

Defense Minister Gallant visited Khan Yunis where he was briefed on operational efforts above and below the ground in the area.

<p><em>Al Jazeera</em> reported on Thursday that the Houthis struck a British commercial vessel in the Red Sea that was en route to Israel.</p>

The US has reportedly approved plans for a series of strikes on Iranian targets in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for Iranian-back militants' strike on US bases.

In a photo from the scene, the hostage taker is seen on the backdrop of a wall spray-painted with Turkish and PLO flags.