Palestinians gather at the site of an Israeli strike on a house, as the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas continues, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip December 19, 2023. REUTERS/Shadi Tabatibi
Israeli forces continued their assault on the beleaguered Gaza Strip on Tuesday, as Yemen’s Houthi rebels expressed their determination to defy a U.S.-led naval mission aimed at safeguarding Red Sea shipping in support of Hamas. The ongoing Israeli campaign, launched in response to an Oct. 7 Hamas attack, has left Gaza in ruins, causing widespread suffering, hunger, and homelessness, with nearly 20,000 Gazans reported killed.
Facing international pressure to minimize civilian casualties, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserts that the war will persist until the release of 129 hostages and the obliteration of Hamas for its role in the killing of 1,200 Israelis.
The conflict has extended beyond Gaza, reaching the Red Sea, where Houthi forces aligned with Iran have been targeting vessels using missiles and drones. In response, a multinational naval operation was initiated to protect shipping in the area. However, the Houthis have declared their intention to continue their actions, potentially conducting sea operations every 12 hours.
Houthi official Mohammed Abdulsalam affirmed their unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, stating that their position remains unchanged, and only Israeli ships or those heading to Israel will be targeted.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the naval operation, emphasizing the need for collective international action to address the challenge. Joint patrols are set to occur in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, crucial global shipping routes.
Amid these developments, a British maritime security firm, Ambrey, reported a potential boarding attempt west of Yemen’s Aden port city. Fortunately, the attack was unsuccessful, and all crew members are reported safe.
In response to the escalating tensions and security concerns, some shippers are opting to reroute their vessels around Africa.
Israeli forces continued their assault on the Gaza Strip, targeting the southern Rafah area and the Jabalia refugee camp, resulting in a significant number of casualties. The strikes have intensified, particularly in Jabalia, with residents reporting escalating aerial and tank bombardment.
In response to the mounting death toll, Israel claims to provide advance warnings of strikes to allow civilians to evacuate. However, local Palestinians dispute these claims, emphasizing the heavy toll on innocent lives.
The Israeli military justifies the civilian casualties as an unavoidable consequence of its intense campaign to destroy Hamas and dismantle the militants’ urban warfare strategy. Israeli officials argue that the military is conducting thousands of attacks to break through Hamas’ underground tunnel network.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, during his visit to Israel on Monday, stressed the moral duty and strategic imperative of protecting civilians in Gaza. However, Israeli military officials maintain that heavy civilian casualties are an inherent part of their military strategy.
As a result of the conflict, more than 60% of Gaza’s infrastructure is destroyed or damaged, and over 90% of the population, totaling 2.3 million people, has been displaced.
On the ground, Israeli tanks have advanced into the southern city of Khan Younis, facing fierce resistance from Hamas fighters employing guerrilla-style tactics from tunnels.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog signaled a willingness to consider another foreign-mediated “humanitarian pause” to recover hostages held by Hamas and facilitate aid to Gaza. However, Hamas has ruled out further negotiations on a prisoner exchange while the war continues.
Diplomatic efforts, including talks in Warsaw, Poland, between Qatar’s prime minister and the heads of U.S. and Israeli intelligence services, aim to explore ways of reviving negotiations, but a deal is not expected imminently.
As the conflict prolongs, the Gaza health ministry reported a death toll of 19,667 Palestinians and 52,586 wounded since October 7. UN officials expressed outrage about the condition of Gaza’s hospitals, lacking supplies and safety, with instances of shelling impacting medical facilities.
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