KEY POINTS
- Britain says joint U.S. attacks crippled Houthi ability to attack merchant vessels
- Qatar mediating between Israel, Hamas for medicine delivery to hostages, report says
- Houthis warn Yemen attackers will 'pay the price'
It's the 98th day of the war in Gaza. Israel defended itself Friday at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), rejecting South Africa's claims over the former's military offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ahead of the second day of hearings at the ICJ over the case filed by South Africa against Israel, slammed the case, calling the allegations of genocide "hypocrisy and lies."
Joint forces of the United States and the United Kingdom struck more than a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen Thursday following a barrage of drones and missiles launched by the Yemeni rebel militia earlier this week toward busy merchant shipping lanes in the Red Sea.
The White House has since defended U.S. strikes toward Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, saying they were in response to "unprecedented attacks" by the rebel group, which repeatedly said its aggression in the Red Sea was targeted primarily at Israeli ships and vessels headed toward Israeli ports.
- Britain's Sunak says Royal Air Force acted on 'self defense'
- US strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen were 'defensive': Biden
- 'Further costs' on Houthi side if Red Sea attacks don't stop: Pentagon chief
- Israel on 'high alert' for Houthi retaliation after US-UK strikes in Yemen: Report
- Houthi leader says group ready to 'confront' US
- Saudi says monitoring Red Sea tensions with 'great concern'
- Iran calls out 'arbitrary' attacks by Washington, Britain against Houthis
- Hezbollah warns of 'severe consequences' after coalition attacks against Houthis
- Houthis say 5 dead, 6 injured after Red Sea coalition forces' strikes
- Operation Prosperity Guardian releases joint statement after Houthi strikes
Back in Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has not let up on its campaign in central and southern Gaza, especially in the Al Maghazi camp and Khan Yunis, the known hometown of Hamas' most senior leader in the enclave, Yahya Sinwar.
The Oct. 7 massacre by Hamas of more than 1,200 Israelis and foreigners was the highest point so far in the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict that spanned decades of violence.
The live update has ended.
Israel rejects 'grossly distorted' claims by South Africa at ICJ
Israel's representatives at the ICJ hearings on South Africa's case rejected the latter's "genocide" claims, saying the allegations were "grossly distorted."
The country called on ICJ judges to dismiss South Africa's demand that Israel end its military offensive in the Gaza Strip as doing so would leave Israel without defense against Hamas terrorism.
Tal Becker, the Israeli foreign ministry's legal adviser, told the court South Africa's claim Israel was committing "genocidal acts" against Palestinians in Gaza was "totally lacking."
British lawyer Malcolm Shaw said the military campaign in Gaza was "no genocide" and South Africa was only telling the world "half of the story."
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