1:11 p.m
Israeli hostages had sticks covered in white cloth
According to a preliminary investigation by the Israeli army, the three hostages killed by soldiers in Gaza yesterday had lifted a stick with a white cloth. An army source said this in a briefing with journalists. According to the same investigation, the troops did not “adhere to Army rules of engagement.”
11:49 a.m
“Flying object” shot down by Egyptians over the Red Sea
Egyptian air defense intercepted and shot down a “flying object” off the Egyptian coast near the city of Dahab in the Gulf of Aqaba. This was reported by Egyptian television channel Al Qahera News, citing Egyptian sources, as the Red Sea front remains heated since the start of hostilities in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas following the horrific attack on October 7.
08:48
Tension in the Red Sea
Yemen's Houthis, which Iran is accused of supporting, are threatening to continue their attacks as the Red Sea front remains heated since hostilities began in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas following the horrific October 7 attack. In recent hours, cargo ships believed to be in some way linked to Israel have been attacked, and the Houthis say they “will not stop supporting the Palestinian cause.” The Houthis “will not abandon the Palestinian cause regardless of any American, Israeli or Western threat,” Ali al-Qahoum of the Houthis’ political office told al-Mayadeen TV. Al-Qahoum threatened “catastrophic consequences” in the event of “hostile actions against Yemen” and claimed that there was an “obligation” by the Houthis to protect “international maritime shipping in accordance with international law.”
08:47
Bombs on Gaza
“Intense bombing” by Israel is underway across the Gaza Strip, including the southern city of Khan Younis and areas in the north of the enclave. This was reported by some Palestinian media outlets, as the Times of Israel reported.
08:45
Sirens north of Israel
Missile defense sirens are wailing in northern Israel, on the border with Lebanon and in the south near the Gaza Strip. This was announced by the military spokesman.
08:45
On the way to the Mossad meeting with Qatar
In the next few hours there could be a meeting “in Europe” between the head of the Mossad, David Barnea, and the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Mohammed Bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani. The indiscretion came from Axios, which said the in-person meeting is expected “this week,” and was relaunched this morning by the Jerusalem Post. The goal, Axios wrote, citing two sources briefed on the dossier, is to restart negotiations on an agreement that would lead to the release of hostages held captive in the Gaza Strip since Israel's horrific Oct. 7 attack. This would be the first meeting between the leaders of Israel and Qatar since the end of the week-long ceasefire agreed at the end of November. The meeting between Barnea and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Tel Aviv took place last Thursday. Meanwhile, the conflict in the Gaza Strip continues and in Israel, pressure from the families of the hostages on the Benjamin Netanyahu government is increasing.
08:41
Iran: Mossad agent executed
The official Iranian news agency IRNA reported that an agent of the Israeli secret service Mossad was executed on Saturday in Iran's southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province. The Guardian writes this, citing Portal. “He communicated with foreign services, including the Mossad, collected confidential information and, with the participation of others, provided documents to foreign services, including the Mossad,” is the motivation that emerges from the Irna agency, while the reason is not specified identity the executed person.