KEY POINTS
- 35% of Gaza buildings have either been destroyed or damaged in Israel's offensive: UN
- The UK reportedly threatened to impose arms ban on Israel unless Nukhba prisoners visited by ICRC
- World Bank report finds imminent risk of famine in the Gaza Strip
The Israel-Hamas war is now in its 167th day, and eyes are on the Middle East as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the region to seek a ceasefire deal and more humanitarian aid for Gaza.
Beijing and Moscow have reportedly reached an agreement with Iranian-backed Houthis over the safe navigation of Chinese and Russian ships in the Red Sea.
Occupants of a "small craft" that made a suspicious approach toward a commercial vessel off of Yemen exchanged fire with the ship's security team Thursday morning, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported.
- US circulates UN draft resolution calling for immediate ceasefire 'linked to the release of hostages'
- Burning object thrown at Israeli embassy in the Netherlands: Reports
- Blinken to meet Middle Eastern foreign ministers in regional tour
- IDF fighter jets carry out strikes in southern Lebanon: Arab media
- Israel attacks Hezbollah structure in Kfarkela after targeting of Kibbutz Yiftah
- 3 missiles launched toward Israeli town near Lebanese border: Local media
- Israel eyes possibly installing Palestinian business leaders in post-war Gaza governing body: Report
- Israel can defend itself, but it doesn't have the right 'to revenge': EU's Borrell
Back in Gaza, fighting rages on at Shifa Hospital, the Strip's largest medical complex. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) raided the area earlier this week as it has been on a manhunt for senior Hamas officials in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, a total of 36 countries are considering sending humanitarian aid for Gaza civilians through Cyprus, as there have been mounting difficulties in getting supplies for Palestinians via land transfer.
Despite immense pressure from Washington and the international community over Israel's planned ground incursion into Rafah, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is unmoved. He told Republican senators that Israel will continue to pursue its war goals – eliminating Hamas being its top priority.
Global leaders are calling for a ceasefire deal that could free the remaining hostages in Gaza and allow for more aid to enter the devastated enclave. There are also increasing calls urging Israel to agree to a two-state solution in the long and violent Israel-Palestine conflict that led to Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre in Israel.
Israel is reportedly waiting for Hamas' response to a proposal by an Israeli delegation for a potential truce agreement.
The live update has ended.
Israel has right to defend, but 'not to revenge': Borrell
European Union leaders will call for a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza at the Brussels summit Thursday, the bloc's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said ahead of the conference. He said the European Council will go "much further" in its demands regarding the situation in the enclave.
"Asking for a sustainable ceasefire, certainly asking also for freedom of hostages, but showing a strong concern for the situation of the people in Gaza, which is unacceptable," he said. "Certainly Israel has the right to defend, [but] not to revenge," he added.
Israel eyeing post-war Gaza with non-Hamas-linked Palestinian business leaders: Report
The Israeli government is working on a post-war plan that will see some Palestinians governing Gaza – entrepreneurs and leaders who aren't linked to Hamas, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing an unnamed top Israeli defense official who reportedly spoke with some Arab nations in a bid to gain support for the proposed post-war Gaza structure.
Under the plan, the non-Hamas Palestinian business leaders will be given key roles in distributing aid for Gaza civilians through a system that will eventually be ironed out to become a Palestinian-led governing authority, as per the report.
The Israeli government has yet to deny or confirm the report.
Missiles fired toward Israel's Metula: Local media
Three anti-tank missiles were fired toward Metula, a town in the Northern District of Israel located near the Lebanese border, local media reported Thursday.
As earlier reported, Israeli warplanes struck Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon Thursday after a northern kibbutz was targeted by a rocket launch from Lebanese territory Wednesday night.
IDF says it attacked Hezbollah structure after rocket launched toward Yiftah
Israeli warplanes struck a "military structure" belonging to Iran-backed Hezbollah in the Kfarkela area in southern Lebanon on Thursday, the IDF said. The attack came after a rocket launch was detected from Lebanese territory Wednesday night, targeting Israel's Kibbutz Yiftah, near the northern border with Lebanon.
לפני זמן קצר מטוסי קרב תקפו מבנה צבאי של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה במרחב כפר כילא
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) March 21, 2024
בנוסף, אמש הותקף מבנה צבאי נוסף של הארגון במרחב א- דהירה.
במהלך הלילה, זוהה שיגור שחצה משטח לבנון לעבר מרחב יפתח, כוחות צה"ל תקפו את מקור הירי pic.twitter.com/gEGFpOfq7e
Israeli warplanes conduct strikes in southern Lebanon: Arab media
Israeli fighter jets conducted two airstrikes in Ayta ash Shab in Lebanon on Thursday afternoon, Sky News in Arabic reported. This comes amid continuing near-daily fire exchanges between Iranian-backed Hezbollah and the Israeli forces near the Israel-Lebanon border.
The IDF has yet to deny or confirm the report.
China, Russia reach deal with Houthi over Red Sea navigation: Report
China and Russia have reached an agreement with Iranian-backed Houthis to ensure that Chinese and Russian commercial vessels won't be targeted by the Yemeni rebel militia, Bloomberg reported Thursday, citing people with knowledge of the militant group's discussions.
The report comes amid near-daily attacks by the Yemeni terror group on merchant ships transiting the Red and Arabian Seas and the Gulf of Aden.
Blinken's itinerary includes Egyptian FM meeting
The U.S. Secretary of State is expected to meet Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry during his Middle Eastern tour. He will also meet with the foreign ministers of other Middle Eastern nations, including Jordan and Qatar, a major mediator in Gaza ceasefire talks.
Read the full story here.
Burning object thrown at Israeli embassy in The Hague: Reports
A burning object was thrown in the direction of the Israeli embassy in The Hague Thursday morning, according to multiple outlets and reports on social media.
A suspect has been arrested by Dutch police and no injuries were reported from the said incident.
US circulates draft resolution calling for immediate ceasefire in Gaza: Blinken
The U.S. has circulated a draft UN Security Council resolution that calls for an "immediate ceasefire linked to the release of hostages" in Gaza, Blinken said Thursday.
Washington has been piling pressure on Israel in recent weeks to agree to a truce agreement with Hamas so some 130 hostages still in Hamas captivity can be freed and much-needed aid can be delivered faster for Gaza civilians.
Blinken is in the Middle East to further pressure its top ally in the region and to urge more efforts among Arab nations to help get aid faster into Gaza.
Read the full story here.
World Bank backs global food monitor's Gaza famine assessment
The World Bank on Wednesday backed the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification's (IPC) special brief regarding the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. "Currently, 1.11 million people, comprising half of the Gaza Strip's population, are in IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe), facing extreme food shortages and an inability to meet basic needs, resulting in increased risks of acute malnutrition and death," the World Bank said.
It further cited the IPC assessment, noting that "household surveys reveal alarming trends, with virtually all households skipping meals daily and a significant portion of children under two suffering from acute malnutrition."
This comes amid increasing pressure on Israel to allow more humanitarian aid to enter the enclave. The Israeli government has also been accused of blocking aid entry for Gaza civilians.
Britain demands Israel allow Red Cross to visit Nukhba prisoners: Report
The United Kingdom has threatened to halt arms sales to Israel if the government doesn't allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to visit detained suspects linked to Hamas' elite Nukhba unit, local Ynetnews reported Thursday. Britain has yet to deny or confirm the report.
The supposed threat comes just days after Canada decided to ban arms sales to Israel following a non-binding vote at the House of Commons.
35% of Gaza's buildings damaged: UNOSAT
A total of 35% of "all buildings in the Gaza Strip have been damaged," the United Nations' Satellite Center (UNOSAT) said in a Wednesday report.
The said percentage represents over 88,000 structures in the enclave, of which 31,198 structures were identified as "destroyed," while 16,908 were "severely damaged," and 40,762 were "moderately damaged," according to the report.
Among the areas that saw the largest rise in damage was Khan Yunis, southern Gaza's main city, as it saw an additional 12,279 structures damaged from the previous assessment in January 2024.
The United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) has released an updated assessment of the damage inflicted on buildings in the Gaza Strip.
— UNOSAT (@UNOSAT) March 21, 2024
35% of Gaza Strip Structures were damaged since the outburst of the conflict.
Read our latest press release: https://t.co/t33jLBJJ4Y pic.twitter.com/1lvR4Rw5Bz
'Possible' to bridge gaps in truce deal: Israeli official
There could be hope for a new ceasefire deal to be reached after Israel forwarded a proposal to Hamas and is waiting for the Palestinian terror group's response. "There is an opportunity to bring an agreement; it is possible to bridge the gaps," Israel's national broadcaster Kan reported Thursday, citing a senior Israeli official.
The report comes as mediators race to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza amid mounting hunger in the enclave.
Israel will pursue Hamas elimination war goal: Netanyahu to GOP senators
An unfazed Netanyahu told Republican senators Wednesday that Israeli will continue its military offensive as part of its war goal of eliminating Hamas, senators told reporters after a party lunch.
"He's going to do what he said he's going to do. He's going to finish it," said Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho. "We told him Israel has every right to defend themselves and he said that's exactly what they continue to do," said Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming.
Risch added that Netanyahu was "very supportive" of plans to establish a temporary port so humanitarian aid can be brought in for Gaza civilians by sea.
This comes about a week after Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called for a new election in Israel, saying Netanyahu was among four "major obstacles" to peace.
36 countries mull Cyprus aid route for Gaza civilians
Officials from 36 countries gathered in Cyprus Thursday to discuss how more aid can be delivered to the Gaza Strip. They are considering expediting humanitarian supplies delivery through a sea route in Cyprus launched last week in collaboration with the U.S.-based charity World Central Kitchen (WCK).
Among the key points of discussions is the lack of infrastructure and the means of transport. "We are discussing how we can max up operational capacity both in terms of departure and means of transport and also in relation to the reception and distribution methodology," said Constantinos Kombos, the Cypriot foreign minister, as per Reuters.
Kombos noted that "there are limitations in terms of the reception and distribution" of aid, seemingly pointing to contradicting reports by the Israeli government and aid agencies regarding distribution issues that delay the delivery of supplies for Gaza civilians.
Israeli troops continue operations at Shifa Hospital: IDF
The IDF continues to operate within the area of Gaza Strip's largest health and medical complex as of Thursday, the Israeli army said. Its 13th fleet and 401st Brigade combat teams are operating "on the spot," the IDF added.
It said its operations were carried out in such a way that no harm is brought upon civilians, patients, medical teams and equipment.
כוחות צה״ל ושב״כ ממשיכים להילחם במרחב בית החולים שיפאא׳. כוחות שייטת 13 וצוות הקרב של חטיבה 401 פועלים במקום תוך הימנעות מפגיעה באזרחים, חולים, צוותים רפואיים וציוד רפואי >> pic.twitter.com/P4LeN3MJEu
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) March 21, 2024
Armed men fire at merchant ship in 'suspicious approach' incident
A small craft made a "suspicious approach" toward a merchant vessel off of Nishtun, Yemen on Thursday morning, the UKMTO said. The "small craft occupants exchanged small arms fire" with the ship's armed security team," the UKMTO added. Afterwards, the small craft left the area.
The ship and crew are reported safe, but vessels around the area have been advised to transit with caution.
UKMTO WARNING INCIDENT 056 SUSPICIOUS APPROACHhttps://t.co/auxAKdReZU#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/48AukSvvGc
— United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) March 21, 2024
This comes following the recent attack on merchant vessel Mado, as perpetrated by Iranian-backed Yemeni Houthi rebels, who have been running amok in the Red and Arabian Seas and the Gulf of Aden since November.
