KEY POINTS
- Hamas releases video of hostage Noa Argamani, whose mother is battling terminal brain cancer
- Small boats approach merchant ship off Eritrea: UKMTO
- 'Differences' in approach to hostage release efforts apparent in war cabinet meeting, says report
The war in Gaza has crossed a grim milestone as Israel and Hamas entered the 101st day of fighting. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Egypt-Gaza border should be closed before the Israeli army eliminates the Palestinian terror group.
Israel marked the 100th day of the Gaza war with the 24-hour "100 Days in Hell" rally that featured messages from global leaders. This comes as a Hamas spokesperson said the fate of many hostages in Gaza has become "unknown."
On the northern border with Lebanon, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed that the Iran-backed terror group will continue to fight Israeli forces until the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) ends its military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
The IDF said Monday that carried out a "wave of attacks" against Hezbollah facilities in Lebanon, including an "operational headquarters."
- 2 ammunition depots in Khan Yunis destroyed: IDF
- Former IDF chief pushed for more political efforts in freeing hostages: Report
- Highest number of humanitarian aid trucks entered Gaza Sunday
- Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre needs 'deep investigation': Former IDF chief of staff
- QatarEnergy halts Red Sea transit of its tankers: Report
- 'Senior' Israeli law firms refused to represent Red Cross: Report
Mediators have struck a deal to allow for the delivery of medicine to some 40 hostages in Gaza. It is expected that the Red Cross will be involved in the transactions -- marking the first time since the war started that the organization will have access to the hostages.
Over in the troubled Red Sea, the U.S. army shot down a missile fired by Yemeni Houthi rebels from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen toward the USS Laboon, a destroyer deployed to the area as part of the Washington-led maritime task force operations to protect commercial shipping.
Decades of violence in the Israel-Palestine conflict erupted on Oct. 7, when Hamas operatives invaded Israel in a surprise attack, murdering more than 1,200 people, and dragging more than 200 hostages into the enclave.
The live update has ended.
Red Cross rejected by some Israeli law firms: Report
Several "senior" law firms in Israel refused to represent the Red Cross in a lawsuit filed by freed hostages and the families of remaining hostages in Hamas captivity, Israel's national broadcaster Kan reported Monday.
Among the nationally-known law firms that reportedly rejected the organization was the Herzog, Fox & Ne'eman, which is a known law powerhouse in the country. The law office reportedly refused to comment on the report.
Fate of many Israeli hostages 'unknown': Hamas official
Abu Ubaida, the spokesman of Hamas' armed wing, said the fate of many Israeli hostages in Gaza has become unknown as they "may have been killed." He went on to reiterate that "any talks before stopping the Israeli aggression are worthless."
Ubaida's comments came as the loved ones of remaining hostages in Gaza press the Israeli government for more action in getting the abductees freed. The families demonstrated in Tel Aviv Sunday, marking the 100th day since the hostages were forcefully dragged into Gaza.
Read the full story here.
QatarEnergy halts tanker activity in Red Sea: Report
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter QatarEnergy has halted the transit of its tankers through the Red Sea, Reuters reported Monday, citing a senior source with direct knowledge of the matter.
"It is a pause to get security advice, if passing (through the) Red Sea remains unsafe we will go via the Cape (of Good Hope)," the source said.
Production in the world's second-largest LNG exporter continues, but recent attacks in the Red Sea have disrupted the company's activities, as per LSEG shiptracking data that revealed four of QatarEnergy's tankers were held up over the weekend amid the U.S.-led coalition's responses to Yemeni Houthi rebel militia's attacks in the area.
Ex-IDF chief says Oct. 7 needs 'deep investigation'
Former IDF chief of staff Aviv Kochavi on Monday talked about Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre for the first time Monday, saying it requires "deep investigation."
He also acknowledged shared responsibility for decisions taken during his term as the Israeli army's leader. He said that while Israel was going through tough times, "they must not cover up or forget everything that we built here," as per a Google translation of his statements.
He went on to note that Israel "will continue to protect ourselves from external threats but we will also have to protect ourselves from internal threats."
Humanitarian aid efforts mark significant milestone
Sunday marked a significant feat in efforts to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip as 237 humanitarian aid trucks entered the enclave. It was the highest number of aid trucks that entered the Strip in one day since the war started, the Israeli government said Monday.
Yesterday (Jan 14), 237 humanitarian aid trucks were inspected and transferred to the Gaza Strip.
โ Israel ืืฉืจืื ๐ฎ๐ฑ (@Israel) January 15, 2024
This is the highest number of aid trucks transferred to Gaza in one day since the start of the war.
Our fight is with Hamas, not the people of Gaza.
๐ธ @cogatonline pic.twitter.com/FufOFjIeOL
Israel has been under mounting pressure to allow more humanitarian supplies to enter Gaza as residents are displaced by intense fighting between the Israeli army and Hamas combatants.
'Differences' in hostage release efforts in full display at war cabinet meeting: Report
The "differences in approach" between Netanyahu, defense minister and war cabinet member Yoav Gallant and minister Gadi Eisenkot was apparent during the weekend meeting as ministers discussed efforts to free the remaining hostages in Gaza, local Walla News correspondents reported.
Eisenkot reportedly demanded that political efforts be increased in freeing the hostages, but Netanyahu and Gallant maintained that only military pressure would do the job. Eisenkot, who is a former IDF chief, reportedly told ministers that "we are lying to ourselves and not in the right direction."
MSG Gal Meir Eisenkot, the son of the former Israeli army chief, fell in battle last month during what the IDF said were operations "that enabled the location" of the bodies of two hostages killed in Hamas captivity.
IDF destroys 2 ammunition storage facilities in Khan Yunis
Israeli troops destroyed two ammunition depots in Khan Yunis in the last day, the IDF said Monday morning local time.
ืขืื ืืืื ืืื ืก, ืืืืืช ืฆื"ื ืืฉืืืื ืืืืื ืืืืจืื ื ืฉื ื ืืืกื ื ืืืืดื ืืืงืจืงืข ืืืืืืืืจ, ืชืงืคื ืืื ืื ืฆืืืืื ืฉื ืืืืก ืืืืชืจื ืืื ื ืฉืง, ืืืขื ืื ืืืฃ ืืืกื ืืืช ืืชืื ืืจืื ืืืจ ืืืืื ืืืืชื ืฉื ืืืื ืืืืก>> pic.twitter.com/aMBy5k9Pzh
โ ืฆืื ืืืื ื ืืืฉืจืื (@idfonline) January 15, 2024
The news comes after the Israeli army reverted its focus from the northern Gaza Strip to the southern tip of the enclave and also expanded its military campaign in central Gaza in recent days.
IDF conducts 'wave of attacks' against Hezbollah, hits 'operational' HQ
The Israeli army "completed" a "wave of attacks in Lebanese territory" that targeted Hezbollah paramilitary assets Sunday, the IDF said. Amon the assets struck were Hezbollah infrastructure and an "operational headquarters" belonging to the Iranian-backed terror group.
ืืืืกื ืงืจื ืฉื ืืื ืืืืืืจ ืืฉืืืื ืืคื ื ืืื ืงืฆืจ ืื ืชืงืืคืืช ืืฉืื ืืื ืื. ืืื ืืืืจืืช ืฉื ืชืงืคื, ืชืฉืชืืืช ืืจืืจ ืืืคืงืืืช ืืืฆืขืืืช ืฉื ืืจืืื ืืืจืืจ ืืืืืืืื ืืฉืื ืืื ืื.
โ ืฆืื ืืืื ื ืืืฉืจืื (@idfonline) January 14, 2024
ืืื ืื, ืืื ืืืืืืจ ืชืงืฃ ืืฉืขืืช ืืฆืืจืืื ืชืฉืชืืืช ืื ืืกืื ื ืืกืคืื ืฉื ืืจืืื ืืืจืืจ ืืืืืืืื ืืืื ืื pic.twitter.com/bxHQGVmfHA
The news comes after Nasrallah warned of continued attacks by the Lebanon-based paramilitary organization until Israel ends its military campaign in Gaza.
Small boats approach merchant ship in Red Sea
Two small boats "approached and hailed" a commercial vessel at around noon Sunday local time off the coast of Assab, Eritrea, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said. The small boats were "attempting to get them [the ship] to change course," but it maintained course after receiving reassurance from authorities.
UKMTO ADVISORY 001/JAN/2024 UPDATE 001https://t.co/lJYidPgcjT#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/O6krj6TKmY
โ United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) January 14, 2024
The boats then left the vicinity, but the UKMTO said vessels around the area to transit with caution and report any suspicious activities.
Hamas releases video of 3 hostages, including daughter of cancer patient
Hamas released a video showing three hostages: Yoshi Sharabi, Itai Svirski, and Noa Argamani, whose mother, Liora Argamani, pled for help from the Israeli government and international community to free her daughter as her final wish was to see Noa released.
Liora is battling terminal brain cancer and touched the world when she made an international appeal to Israel, China, where she is from, and to U.S. President Joe Biden. Liora also attended the "100 Days in Hell" rally in Tel Aviv.
Leora Argamani, the mother of Israeli hostage Noa Argamani addresses crowd in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv during a 24 hour rally that calls attention to the plight of the 136 remaining hostages in Hamas captivity in Gaza. #NoaArgamani #freethehostages #BringThemBackHomeNowโฆ pic.twitter.com/qefC1caYKw
โ The Jewish Voice (@JewishVoice) January 14, 2024
The end of the video that Hamas published reportedly states: "Tomorrow, we will inform you of their fate."
US shoots down Houthi missile targeting its warship
The U.S. shot down a missile Sunday afternoon local time that was "fired from Iranian-backed Houthi militant areas of Yemen toward the USS Laboon," a destroyer deployed in the Red Sea, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said.
On Jan. 14 at approximately 4:45 p.m. (Sanaa time), an anti-ship cruise missile was fired from Iranian-backed Houthi militant areas of Yemen toward USS Laboon (DDG 58), which was operating in the Southern Red Sea. The missile was shot down in vicinity of the coast of Hudaydah byโฆ pic.twitter.com/jftZHQhA2e
โ U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 15, 2024
The missile was shot down in the vicinity of the Hodeidah coast. No injuries or damage were reported from the incident. Hodeidah's port is controlled by Yemen's Houthi rebel militia.
Nasrallah vows northern front aggression will continue until Israel stops Gaza campaign
Hezbollah attacks against Israel on the northern front will continue unless Israel decides to halt its military offensive in the Gaza Strip, Nasrallah said Sunday.
He revealed that there were envoys sent to Lebanon to "extinguish" the Lebanese front by delivering a warning that "Israel will launch a war on Lebanon" if the Iran-backed militant group, which has a more extensive weaponry arsenal than Hamas, doesn't stop attacking Israel, as per a Reuters translation of the Hezbollah chief's statements.
Nasrallah did not mention which country sent envoys and who were the diplomats that were sent to Lebanon.
Israel, supporters in London mark a hundred days since Oct. 7 massacre
Israel and its supporters in London marked the 100th day of the Israel-Hamas war Sunday through the "100 Days in Hell" rallies that were staged in Tel Aviv and the Trafalgar Square in London.
Tens of thousands fill Trafalgar Square, demanding the immediate release of the over 130 hostages who have now spent 100 days in Hamas captivity. #BringThemHome #StandWithIsrael. pic.twitter.com/7z3zYymTkL
โ Israel in the UK ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ค๐ฌ๐ง (@IsraelinUK) January 14, 2024
In Australia and China, cyclists rode to "bring them home."
We will be sharing your photos throughout the day.
โ Israel ืืฉืจืื ๐ฎ๐ฑ (@Israel) January 14, 2024
Australia โค๏ธ๐ฆ๐บ#BringThemAllHome pic.twitter.com/KgciOUbgOg
#RidetoBringThemBack @IsraelinChina ๐๏ธ pic.twitter.com/jaNVHgEQ4T
โ Israel ืืฉืจืื ๐ฎ๐ฑ (@Israel) January 14, 2024
The Israeli government also released several videos reminding the world that there are still more 136 hostages being held in Gaza, 100 days since they were taken from Israel.
Every second they spend in captivity is another second in hell.
โ Israel ืืฉืจืื ๐ฎ๐ฑ (@Israel) January 14, 2024
Even one more second in captivity is too much.
BRING THEM HOME NOW
๐ธ@bringhomenow pic.twitter.com/bqvhLtxQ25
Israel, Hamas reach deal to transfer medicine to hostages in Gaza
Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement โ as mediated by Qatar โ to allow for the delivery of medicine for hostages held in the Gaza Strip, as per a statement from Netanyahu's office. The development marks the first time the Palestinian terror group agreed to allow Israel to send medicine to hostages who are either injured or suffering from critical conditions.
Hamas agreed to Israel's request in exchange for Israel sending a shipment of medication for Gaza hospitals through organizations with the United Nations, two Israeli officials said, as per Axios.
The Israeli government has been pushing Qatari and Egyptian mediators to press Hamas to allow medicine transfer to hostages since the war started, but Hamas has allegedly either refused or made "unrealistic demands," the outlet reported, citing a senior Israeli official.
Hamas previously warned that the remaining hostages in Gaza were doomed unless Israel meets its demands.
Netanyahu says Egypt-Gaza border 'must' shut down
The Israeli prime minister said over the weekend that the Philadelphi Corridor, the strip of land that borders Egypt and the Gaza Strip, "must" be closed. If such an action is implemented, Israel is expected to have full control of the enclave.
"We'll destroy Hamas, we'll demilitarize Gaza, and military equipment and other deadly weapons will continue to enter this southern opening, so of course we need to close it," he reiterated.
Ahmed Abu Zeid, spokesperson of Egypt's foreign ministry, has since responded to Netanyahu's remarks, saying Egypt "fully controls its borders and controls it completely," adding that issues regarding its borders are subject to agreements "between countries involved," as per a CNN translation of his statement.
