KEY POINTS
- Medicine delivery for hostages in Gaza to begin Wednesday under France, Qatar-brokered deal
- Saudi may recognize Israel after Palestine issue resolved, says foreign minister
- Pakistan says Iran breached its airspace, killing 2 children
The Israel-Hamas war has entered its 103rd day, with Israel announcing that two hostages in a recent video published by Hamas were "murdered" in captivity by the Iran-backed militant group.
The European Union sanctioned Yahya Sinwar, Hamas' most senior leader in the Gaza Strip, adding him to its terror list. European citizens can no longer conduct financial transactions with him.
- Hamas' southern Gaza counter-spying chief assassinated: IDF
- Joint IDF, Shin Bet forces eliminate head of terror cell in West Bank city
- Medicine deal includes 1,000-1 package ratio for Palestinians, hostages: Hamas
- Kurdistan Region PM cancels scheduled meeting with Iranian FM: Arab media
Yemeni Houthis, who have carried out multiple attacks against commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea since November, attacked a Greek-owned merchant vessel that was en route to Israel.
Amid increasing disruption of shipping activities in the area, the Biden administration is reportedly expected to re-classify the Houthi rebel militia as a global terrorist entity.
Back in Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it raided the headquarters of a Hamas battalion in the southern part of the enclave, as well as a regional base of Hamas ally the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).
On Israel's northern front near Lebanon, the IDF struck Hezbollah assets across three villages in southern Lebanon after launches from Lebanese territory were detected toward four Israeli communities.
The ongoing war in Gaza originates from decades of violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that ultimately reached its peak on Oct. 7, when Hamas militants stormed into Israel, murdering more than 1,200 people and abducting over 200 others.
Heavy fighting reported in Khan Yunis
Heavy fire exchanges are underway between Israeli troops and Hamas in southern Gaza's main city, local media reported Wednesday, citing Palestinian media affiliated with the terror group.
The fighting is particularly intense in Batan as-Samin, located west of Khan Yunis, which is a Hamas stronghold and is the known hometown of Sinwar.
An evacuation helicopter was seen Wednesday morning flying low over the area, signaling that wounded Israeli soldiers were being transported.
Evac chopper flying low, a sign that it's transporting wounded IDF soldiers from the area of Khan Yunes. Palestinian media affiliated to Hamas are reporting heavy fighting between IDF ground forces and Hamas cells in the the Batan as-Samin area west of Khan Yunis in the southern… pic.twitter.com/krcGg1HZoc
— Pierre Klochendler (@P_Klochendler) January 17, 2024
Iraqi Kurdistan Region PM cancels Iran meeting: Arab media
Iraq's Kurdistan Region prime minister Masrour Barzani has canceled a scheduled meeting with Iran's foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian following the Iranian army's deadly strikes in Erbil that resulted in deaths and injuries, Sky News Arabia reported Wednesday.
A facility belonging to Israel's intelligence agency Mossad was also struck in the said attacks.
Medicine deal includes 1,000 packages to Palestinians, 1 for each hostage: Hamas
Mousa Abu Marzouk, a senior member of Hamas, said Wednesday that the medicine delivery deal brokered by Qatar and France included 1,000 packages for Palestinians and one package for each hostage in Gaza, local N12 News reported.
The mediators have yet to confirm the volumes of medical packages revealed by Marzouk.
Israel announces 2 hostages in recent video 'murdered' by Hamas
The Israeli government on Wednesday announced that Yossi Sharabi, 53, and Itai Svirsky, 38, who were featured in a video published by Hamas over the weekend, were "murdered by Hamas terrorists while being held hostage in Gaza."
We are heartbroken to share that Yossi Sharabi (53) and Itay Svirsky (38) were
— Israel ישראל 🇮🇱 (@Israel) January 17, 2024
murdered by Hamas terrorists while being held hostage in Gaza.
Itay’s parents were murdered by Hamas on October 7th. He leaves behind three siblings.
Yossi is survived by his wife and three… pic.twitter.com/kFZCmd2LlY
The confirmation comes following another video released by the Palestinian militant group wherein another hostage, 26-year-old Noa Argamani, appeared to read a script that revealed the deaths of Sharabi and Svirsky. The Monday footage of Argamani said the two hostages were killed in Israeli strikes, which the IDF has since denied that it struck the building where the hostages were held.
Head of Hamas Nablus terror cell eliminated
Joint forces of the Israeli army and Israel's security services agency Shin Bet eliminated Abdullah Abu Shalal, the head of a Hamas terror cell in Nablus, a city in the West Bank. Abu Shalal was on a vehicle near the Balata camp when the car was struck by joint IDF-Shin Bet forces, as per documentation published by the Israeli army.
בפעילות משותפת של צה"ל ושב״כ חוסלה מהאוויר חוליית מחבלים, בראשה עמד עבדאללה אבו שלאל>> pic.twitter.com/2S0bNDOihy
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) January 17, 2024
Hamas' southern Gaza counter-espionage chief assassinated: IDF
A Hamas operative stationed in southern Gaza who was "responsible for investigating suspects of espionage against" the Palestinian terror group, the IDF said Wednesday morning local time.
חוסל פעיל חמאס שהיה אחראי על חקירת חשודים בריגול נגד הארגון בדרום רצועת עזה; אותרו והושמדו עמדות השיגור מהן בוצעו השיגורים לעבר נתיבות אתמול>> pic.twitter.com/1V5JsC40dL
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) January 17, 2024
The Israeli army identified the operative as Bilal Nofal. His killing cripples Hamas' abilities in research, as Nofal was allegedly in charge of the terror group's "research and learning methods."
Israeli tanks return to northern Gaza
Israeli tanks have returned to parts of northern Gaza Tuesday, residents told Reuters, with combat reigniting in the areas the IDF left last week.
The news comes after Israel said it was winding down operations in the northern part of the enclave.
Pakistan says Iran strike killed 2 children
Pakistan on Wednesday said Iran conducted an airstrike within Pakistani territory on Tuesday that killed two children. Islamabad condemned the attack, saying it was "completely unacceptable" and was unprovoked.
Iran had been carrying out strikes against what it said were "anti-Iranian terrorist groups" in Syria and Iraq.
Read the full story here.
Saudi may recognize Israel if Palestinian statehood achieved: FM
Saudi Arabia's foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Tuesday that the kingdom may recognize Israel as part of a wider political agreement if a two-state solution is achieved.
"We agree that regional peace includes peace for Israel, but that could only happen through peace for the Palestinians through a Palestinian state, he told a WEF panel.
He said a two-state solution to the longstanding Israel-Palestine conflict was a matter Saudi has been working on with the U.S., "and it is more relevant in the context of Gaza."
Delivery of medicine for hostages to begin Wednesday
The delivery of much-needed medicine for some 45 Israeli hostages in Gaza is expected to begin Wednesday after Qatar and France mediated a deal that will also see medical aid delivered for vulnerable Palestinian civilians.
Qatari Armed Forces aircraft will deliver the aid to Egypt before the medications are transported into the Gaza Strip, as per a statement by Majed bin Mohammed Al-Ansari, the official spokesperson of Qatar's foreign ministry.
There are still more than 130 hostages in Hamas captivity. Their loved ones have been pushing the Israeli government and international community to act on their immediate release.
Hamas warned in December that the remaining hostages are doomed unless Israel meets its demands.
Israeli army attacks Hezbollah assets in 3 Lebanese villages
The Israeli army attacked Hezbollah paramilitary infrastructure and assets Tuesday across three villages in southern Lebanon: Houla, Marwahin, and Ayta ash Shab.
The attacks were carried out following "several launches" from Lebanese territory that were fired toward four northern Israeli communities: Ramot Naftali, Har Manor, Shtula and Shoshan.
IDF troops raid Hamas, PIJ bases in Khan Yunis
Israeli forces raided the offices of some Hamas leaders in Khan Yunis Tuesday, as well as the "headquarters of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)," a Hamas ally.
Among the offices raided were those of the "senior commanders of the southern battalion of the Khan Yunis Brigade," the IDF said in a Google-translated statement. The IDF published footage of the raids.
עוצבת הקומנדו בחאן יונס: הלוחמים פשטו על משרדיהם של מפקדים בכירים בחמאס
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) January 16, 2024
לכל הפרטים והתיעודים>>https://t.co/4IMklxNfKg pic.twitter.com/jfP6mHzUyC
Biden administration expected to re-designate Houthis as terror group
The White House under U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to re-designate the Houthis as a specially designated global terrorist (SDGT) entity following the rebel militia's continuing aggression in the Red Sea, CNN reported Tuesday, citing a source familiar with the matter.
The designation was removed in February 2021 by the administration, with the reasoning that the designation may disrupt the delivery of crucial aid to the Yemeni public. At the time, the Houthis were also de-listed as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO).
International pressure ballooned since the Houthis started attacking merchant ships on Nov. 19, when the rebel army hijacked the Galaxy Leader, whose crew remains in Houthi captivity to this day.
Houthi missile hits Greek-owned vessel off Yemen after US strikes rebel militia's missiles
A Houthi anti-ballistic missile fired from Houthi-held areas in Yemen hit Greek-owned M/V Zografia that was transiting off the Yemeni coast of Saleef Tuesday, the U.S. military said.
U.S. Conducts Strikes in Yemen as Houthi Attacks Against International Shipping Continue
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 16, 2024
On Jan. 16 at approximately 1:45 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants launched an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into international… pic.twitter.com/uUCs9qcBPu
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the ship's cargo hold was hit but there were no fires or casualties reported. The ship and its crew are safe and continued its journey.
UKMTO WARNING 011/JAN/2024 Update 002
— United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) January 16, 2024
Category: ATTACKhttps://t.co/kEfQRRMntN#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/u1ruJC73p2
Multiple outlets reported that the ship was bound for Israel. Yemeni Houthi rebels have repeatedly said their Red Sea attacks were a show of support for Palestine. The rebel militia also vowed to continue the disruption of merchant shipping lanes and the prevention of Israeli and Israel-bound vessels from reaching their port of call.
The latest attack came after U.S. forces "struck and destroyed four Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles prepared for launch" from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen earlier Tuesday.
European Council sanctions Hamas' top official in Gaza
The European Council on Tuesday announced that it has sanctioned Sinwar "as part of the European Union's response to the threat posed by Hamas and its brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks in Israel on 7 October 2023."
He has been added to the EU's terror list, which freezes his assets in the 27-nation bloc and disallows any EU citizen from having financial transactions with the Hamas leader.
"Such a decision has no value against Hamas ... but the idea of imposing sanctions on the leaders of resistance and Hamas ... shows bias to the occupation," Taher Al-Nono, media adviser to Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, told Reuters.
Sinwar was the subject of a manhunt by Israeli ground forces last month in his known hometown of Khan Yunis. The Israeli army blew up his home in southern Gaza's main city, and operations in the area continue more than 100 days into the war.
