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International Business Times
International Business Times
World
Marvie Basilan

Israel-Hamas Conflict: 'Armed' Persons Board Oil Tanker Involved In 2023 US-Iran Dispute

Israel Hamas ICJ South Africa Gaza Egypt

KEY POINTS

  • Israeli army deepens offensive in central and southern Gaza
  • US-Qatar talks did not mention potential Hamas leadership 'exile,' report says
  • Ship boarded by 'armed' individuals had 37 crew members: Report
Live Updates
This picture, taken during a media tour organised by the Israeli military on January 8, 2024, shows troops operating in the central Gaza Strip, amid continuing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. (Credit: AFP)

On the 97th day of the Israel-Hamas war, several "armed" and "unauthorized" individuals boarded a ship in the Red Sea on Thursday morning, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said. The ship has since been identified as the oil tanker St. Nikolas, formerly named Suez Rajan.

  • Ship boarded by 'armed' persons has 'altered course' toward Iranian waters: UKMTO
  • Israel's supporters demonstrate outside Peace Palace
  • Vessel boarded off Oman was carrying 'Iraqi oil': Report
  • South Africa accuses Israel of crossing UN Genocide Convention line at ICJ hearing
  • Israeli opposition leader slams South Africa's ICJ case against Israel
  • Jewish students sue Harvard over alleged failure to address campus anti-Semitism
  • Day 1 of ICJ South Africa vs. Israel hearing concludes
  • Qatar may have known more about Oct. 7 than it let on: Report
  • 'Senior' wanted person from PIJ eliminated in southern Israel: IDF
  • Iranian Navy says it seized 'American' vessel off Oman coast
  • Israel's MFA says South Africa serving as Hamas' 'legal branch'

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) concluded the first day of hearing on the case filed by South Africa against Israel that accused the latter of committing "genocidal acts" in the Gaza Strip.

Ahead of the hearing, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that Israel was not intending to permanently occupy Gaza and or displace the civilian population.

Journalists Hamza al-Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuria, who were killed in an Israeli airstrike earlier this week, were members of "Gaza-based terrorist organizations," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.

Over in the northern border, tensions remain high as Israel warned heavily armed terror group Hezbollah against initiating a new war front near the Israeli-Lebanese border.

The UN Security Council on Wednesday voted in favor of a resolution that demanded Yemen's Houthi rebel militia put an end to their disruption of Red Sea shipping operations.

The raging war in Gaza stems from the violent history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that reached a bloody apex on Oct. 7, when Hamas militants raided Israeli communities and killed more than 1,200 people – mostly civilians.

The live update has ended.

South Africa serving as 'legal branch' of Hamas: Israel's foreign ministry

Lior Haiat, the spokesperson of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), on Thursday said that South Africa was "functioning as the legal arm of the Hamas terrorist organization, utterly distorted the reality in Gaza following the October 7 massacre and completely ignored" the militant group's atrocities during the Oct. 7 invasion of Israel.

Eylon Levy, spokesperson of the Israeli government, called South Africa's actions "tragic," adding that it was once a nation that "prided itself on fighting racism" but has become a nation that fights "pro bono for the biggest racists after their 10/7 act of genocide."

Their remarks came after the ICJ concluded the first day of hearings on the case South Africa filed against Israel over the latter's military campaign in the Gaza Strip.

Iran says it seized 'American ship' off Oman

Iran's Navy announced Thursday afternoon local time that it seized an "American oil tanker" off Oman earlier in the day to comply with a "court order in response to the theft of Iranian oil by the United States in 2023," the Iranian government's semi-official Mehr News Agency reported.

As earlier reported, the UKMTO said a vessel was boarded by "armed" persons off the coast of Oman Thursday morning. The ship has been identified as St. Nikolas, formerly named Suez Rajan.

A fast-attack craft of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy is seen during a joint exercise with the Chinese and Russian navies in the Gulf of Oman in March 2023. (Credit: AFP)

'Senior' wanted individual with PIJ eliminated: IDF

The Israeli army's Thursday operation in Kfar Jeva, southern Israel, resulted in the elimination of a "senior wanted person from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), the IDF said.

Another wanted individual was arrested on the scene, and weapons, cartridges and "terrorist funds" were found.

'Indications' Qatar may have known more about Oct. 7: Report

There are "indications" Qatar may have known more about Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre in Israel than it actually let on, Politico reported Thursday, citing Western intelligence officials who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the issue's sensitivity.

The officials noted that they have no solid evidence, and Qatar which has become home to some Hamas leaders, has declined on record to comment on the report.

The officials also revealed that a possible major motivation for Qatar to maintain silence if it had prior information about the invasion was its interest in stalling normalization talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which is considered a Qatari rival in the region.

Israel has direct access to European and Mediterranean access, and an alliance between Israel and Saudi Arabia in the energy industry would potentially affect Qatar's bloodline: natural gas, as per the report.

Qatar-based Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh speaking in Doha in a file picture from December 20, 2023. (Credit: AFP)

ICJ ends first day of hearing

The first day of hearing on the case South Africa filed against Israel at the ICJ has ended. Israel is expected to present clips of the Hamas massacre on Oct. 7 during Friday's session.

Drone alerts in northern Israel

Drone sirens sounded in northern Israel Thursday afternoon as tensions escalate between the Israeli army and Iran-backed Hezbollah, a heavily-armed terror group based in Lebanon.

Jewish students sue Harvard citing surge in campus anti-Semitism

Harvard University has been sued by Jewish students who alleged that the school failed to address the rise in anti-Semitism in the campus following the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre in Israel, Bloomberg reported Thursday.

The school was under fire in the past month following its former president Claudine Gay's response to campus anti-Semitism in a congressional hearing. Gay has since resigned amid mounting criticism of her refusal to say whether calling for the genocide of Jews was a violation of Harvard's code of conduct, as well as allegations of plagiarism.

Disrupted ship identified as vessel involved in 2023 US-Iran dispute: Report

The ship that was boarded Thursday morning by "armed" persons has been identified as the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker St. Nikolas (formerly Suez Rajan), which was involved in a U.S.-Iran dispute last year, Reuters reported, citing British maritime sources.

After the tanker was boarded, its AIS (automatic identification system) tracker was turned off as it went off-course in the direction of the Bandar-e-Jask port in Iran, as per the report.

The vessel's operator, Empire Navigation, told Reuters that it has lost contact with the tanker that was loaded with 145,000 metric tons of oil and was headed for Aliaga, Turkey from the Iraqi port of Basra.

In April, the U.S. seized the Suez Rajan over what it said was a violation of international sanctions. The tanker carried 980,000 barrels of crude oil at the time, which was allegedly being sold by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Iran has repeatedly criticized Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip and Washington's support for Israel. It also vowed retribution for the 2020 assassination of Qasem Soleimani, a top IRGC general, in a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad.

Israel's opposition leader slams South Africa's case against Israel

Yair Lapid, the leader of Israel's opposition party, told European Union ambassadors Thursday that if a country defending itself against terrorism is dragged to court for genocide allegations, the UN's Genocide Convention "has become a way to reward terrorism and promote anti-Semitism," Israel's national broadcaster Kan reported, as per a Google translation.

Lapid's comments came amid an ongoing hearing of the case South Africa filed against Israel at the ICJ.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid (Credit: AFP)

Loved ones of hostages gather at Nova music fest massacre site

The loved ones of hostages still remaining in Gaza, and the families of the victims murdered by Hamas during the Oct. 7 Nova music festival, gathered at the site of the massacre Thursday, local media reported.

The families of hostages brought loudspeakers to shout the words "we haven't forgotten you" near Israel's southern border with Gaza, "hoping that they will hear them from the depths of the terror tunnels."

Israel reminds world of hostages still in Gaza as ICJ hearing underway

Netanyahu's office on Thursday posted a video featuring some of the Israeli hostages still in Hamas captivity. The last tally put the number of hostages in Gaza at 136.

Among them is the youngest hostage, Kfir Bibas, who will turn one in captivity.

The video's release came as the ICJ hearing for South Africa's "genocide" case against Israel is underway.

South Africa says Israel 'crossed' UN Genocide Convention line

South Africa is on the stand in the hearing for its case against Israel at the ICJ. Pretoria's Justice Minister Ronald Lamola said during the first day of the hearing that Israel's response to the Oct. 7 massacre by Hamas "crossed" the line of the UN's Genocide Convention.

"No armed attack on a state territory no matter how serious... can provide justification for or defend breaches of the convention," he said.

Read the full story here.

Ship disrupted off Oman carried 'Iraqi oil': Report

The ship boarded by yet to be identified individuals off the coast of Oman Thursday morning was carrying "Iraqi oil" as per Saudi's state-owned Al Arabiya. The vessel, which had 19 Greek sailors and 18 Filipino crew members was headed for Turkey, the outlet added.

Ship boarded by 'armed' individuals now headed for 'Iranian territorial waters': UKMTO

The vessel that was boarded by "armed" persons off the coast of Oman has "altered course towards Iranian territorial waters and communications with the vessel have been lost," the UKMTO said in an update on X.

As earlier reported, a group of around four to five "unauthorized" individuals boarded a ship Thursday morning, wearing "military style black uniforms with black masks."

Israel's supporters march toward ICJ

Supporters of Israel started a march Thursday toward the Peace Palace in The Hague "to support Israel in the front line" as it defends itself against South Africa's "genocide" claims in a two-day ICJ hearing.

Israeli troops in Khan Yunis discover tunnel that held hostages: IDF

Israeli ground forces in Khan Yunis have uncovered an underground tunnel "confirmed to have held Israeli hostages," the IDF said Thursday morning.

The said tunnel was "connected to an extensive network beneath a civilian area." It is believed to have needed millions in funding to be constructed as it had air ventilation systems, plumbing and electrical supply.

In footage published by the Israeli army, a toilet and a room with many electrical wires can be seen within the tunnel network.

Armed individuals board Red Sea vessel off Oman

A group of four to five "armed unauthorized persons" boarded a ship off of Sohar, Oman Thursday morning local time, the UKMTO said.

"Unauthorized boarders are reported to be wearing military style black uniforms with black masks," the UKMTO said, adding that it is now unable to make further contact with the ship. Authorities are currently investigating the incident.

The report comes less than a day after the UN Security Council demanded that Yemen's Houthi rebels immediately end their attacks against commercial ships in the Red Sea.

Qatari PM, Blinken didn't mention Hamas leadership 'exile' in talks: Report

Blinken and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani did not mention the possibility of placing Hamas leadership in "exile" during the U.S. Secretary of State's visit in Doha Sunday, Axios political reporter Barak Ravid said in a Google-translated post on X late Wednesday, citing an Israeli source.

He added that talks about the notion of exiling top Hamas leaders were only within the Israeli government.

Israel's national broadcaster Kan reported last month that Israeli officials were discussing the possibility of sparing Hamas leaders and pushing them out of Gaza as part of a path toward ending the war.

Blinken and Al Thani in Amman, November 2023. (Credit: AFP)

Israeli army further deepening central, southern Gaza campaign

Israeli forces are pushing deeper into central and southern Gaza, the IDF said Thursday morning, as troops focus on the Al Maghazi camp and southern Gaza main city, Khan Yunis.

The IDF has scaled back its offensive in northern Gaza following the destruction of majority of Hamas' infrastructure in the area.

Journalists killed Sunday in Israeli strike were Hamas, PIJ members: IDF

Al-Dahdouh and Thuria, who were killed Sunday in an airstrike in Gaza "were members of Gaza-based terrorist organizations," the IDF said late Wednesday.

The two journalists were allegedly "operators of a drone" that posed a "threat to our soldiers near Rafah," the Israeli army added.

Thuria was a squad deputy commander in Hamas' Gaza City Brigade, while Al-Dahdouh was a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad's (PIJ) electronic engineering unit, according to documents found by Israeli forces in Gaza. Al-Dahdouh was also a former deputy commander in the PIJ's Zeitun Battalion, as per the IDF.

UN Security Council demands Houthis immediately halt Red Sea attacks

A total of 11 members of the council Wednesday voted in favor of the U.S. and Japan-sponsored resolution that demanded Yemen's Houthi rebels immediately halt their attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea.

Among the key provisions of the resolution reiterates that every member state of the UN has the right "to defend their vessels from attack, including those that undermine navigational rights and freedoms," within the bounds of international law.

The resolution also demanded that the rebel militia release the hijacked Galaxy Leader that the Houthis seized in November. The 25-person crew – majority of them Filipinos – are being held hostage by the Houthis.

No council member voted against the resolution, while four abstained, including Russia and China, who, like the U.S., have veto-wielding power.

Read the full story here.

Map showing locations in the Red Sea where attacks have been reported since Nov. 19. (Credit: AFP)

Israel has 'no intention' to permanently occupy Gaza: Netanyahu

The Israeli prime minister on Wednesday night reiterated that "Israel has no intention of permanently occupying Gaza or displacing its civilian population."

He went on to note that the Israeli army's goal is "to rid Gaza of Hamas terrorists and free our hostages." Once the said goals are achieved, "Gaza can be demilitarized and de-radicalized, thereby creating a possibility for a better future for Israel and Palestinians alike," he said.

Netanyahu's remarks came amid mounting concerns over the civilian death toll in Gaza and the calls of two Israeli ministers for Palestinians to resettle outside the enclave.

ICJ to begin South Africa vs. Israel case hearings

Israel will face off with South Africa in two-day public hearings at The Hague starting Thursday after South Africa filed a case against the former, accusing it of committing "genocidal acts" in its military campaign in Gaza.

The Israeli government vehemently denied South Africa's claims, reiterating that it has been carrying out a military offensive that complies with international humanitarian laws.

The ICJ has published a live viewing portal for the hearings.

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