Tonight's briefing is dominated by the aftermath of last week's attempted hijacking of a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, with Israeli officials pressing to question the Emirati co-pilot held in the UAE. Elsewhere, reports suggest Saudi Arabia is preparing a large-scale operation against Houthi rebels in Yemen, Israel's Supreme Court has struck down a ban on several Arab-led parties, and the IDF confirmed the killing of a senior Hamas commander in Gaza.

Security

The IDF said a strike this week killed the commander of Hamas's Northern Gaza Brigade, who allegedly took part in the 7 October attack and held 15 hostages during the war. Separately, the army reported killing a Hamas sniper in Khan Younis, with Palestinian sources citing additional casualties. Meanwhile, the diplomatic and security fallout from the attempted hijacking of a flydubai flight to Tel Aviv continued. The co-pilot suspected of trying to crash the aircraft was transferred to the UAE, where Israeli officials are expected to question him alongside Emirati investigators from the security agency that mirrors Israel's Shin Bet, though Abu Dhabi is reportedly seeking to downplay Israeli involvement. Prime Minister Netanyahu described the incident as a potential 'disaster on the scale of 9/11' and vowed those responsible would 'pay a heavy price', while a senior adviser to the UAE president called it a 'dangerous terrorist attack'. Arkia and Israir flights landed in Dubai to repatriate stranded Israelis after El Al's rescue flight was blocked when landing permission was revoked, and flydubai suspended all flights to Israel.

International

Reports from regional and Western sources indicate Saudi Arabia is preparing a broad, multi-front operation against Houthi rebels in Yemen in the coming weeks, to be carried out by Yemeni forces with Saudi backing and reportedly involving over 100,000 troops. Pakistan's foreign minister claimed six further countries wish to join the 'Mecca Pact', an alliance that includes Turkey and Saudi Arabia committed to treating an attack on one member as an attack on all. In Iran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is still awaiting mediators to relay Washington's final position on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, insisting only a negotiated agreement can resolve the crisis. A UAE source criticised Israel's use of the term 'rescue flights' for the Dubai evacuations, saying Abu Dhabi had agreed to enhanced security measures that Israel rejected. In London, the Metropolitan Police urged student organisers to cancel a planned 7 October anniversary march, warning it could leave Jewish students feeling unsafe. Separately, a Times of Israel report examined growing ties between the Netanyahu government and Europe's far-right parties, which former diplomats warn could damage Israel's international standing and strain relations with local Jewish communities.

Politics

Israel's Supreme Court unanimously overturned the Central Elections Committee's decision to ban several Arab-majority parties from standing in elections, ruling that Ra'am, the Joint List and MK Ofer Cassif did not meet the legal threshold of racist incitement or support for armed conflict against the state required for disqualification. The ruling follows an earlier rejection of a separate bid to ban Balad's leader.

Other Developments

A small aircraft crashed in northern Israel during a training flight, killing one person and injuring another. The plane was reportedly carrying an instructor and a trainee when it went down; the resulting fire spread to nearby woodland but was contained by firefighters before reaching residential areas.

Sources: Ynet, Walla, www.israelhayom.co.il, Times of Israel, Jerusalem Post