MEZIESBLOG

IDF troops in Khan Younis have “encountered an armed terrorist cell and thwarted it”, the Israeli military has said in an update today. 

“The soldiers also located large quantities of weapons, including AK-47 rifles, grenades and explosive devices,” the IDF added.

What do we know about Khan Younis?

The Israeli military has said it is currently battling militants in the region and taken suspects into custody.

It has described Khan Younis as a focus of the fighting.

This week, Israel said its military raided the headquarters of Hamas’s brigade in Khan Younis and found what it called training materials for the 7 October attack.

The materials included “models simulating entrance gates of Israeli kibbutzim, military bases and IDF armoured vehicles”, the military said.

Families of British hostages in Gaza to give news conference

The families of British hostages in Gaza are about to speak at a news conference in London.

Among those speaking are:

• Raz Matalon – the brother-in-law of both Eli Sharabi, who is a hostage, and Yossi Sharabi, who was killed in captivity;
• Steve Brisley – the brother-in-law of Eli Sharabi. Mr Brisley’s sister Lianne (Mr Sharabi’s wife) was killed on 7 October along with Mr Brisley’s two nieces, Noiya and Yahel;
• Sharone Lifschitz  – the daughter of Oded Lifshitz, who is being held hostage. Ms Lifschitz’s mother Yocheved Lifshitz was released in late October.

Blinken arrives in Tel Aviv to continue peace talks

US secretary of state Antony Blinken has arrived in Tel Aviv as his diplomatic tour continues.

Yesterday, the top US official met Egypt’s president, Abdel Fattah al Sisi, in Cairo after flying from Saudi Arabia.

His meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman lasted about two hours, and the secretary did not answer reporters’ questions as he returned to his hotel.

This is Mr Blinken’s fifth trip to the region since October and, beyond a truce, he aims to win backing for US plans for what would follow: rebuilding Gaza, and ultimately for a Palestinian state – which Israel rejects.