KEY POINTS
- Nearly 200 UNRWA workers "active" in Hamas military branches: Israeli defense minister
- Palestinians crossing into Egypt should be "avoided at all costs," says UN high commissioner for refugees
- Egypt reportedly setting up contingency area in case of Israeli army's Rafah raid
On the 133rd day of the war in Gaza, tensions in the Middle East are escalating as fighting between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas continues.
A commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Forces was killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon on Thursday. The Iranian-backed terror group has since confirmed the death of Ali Muhammad Aldbas (Al-Debbes).
Hours after the Hezbollah commander's killing was confirmed, the powerful paramilitary organization claimed an attack on a "naval site" it said belonged to the Israeli army, located near the Israeli-Lebanese border.
- Vessel attack reported off Al Mukha, Yemen: UKMTO
- Many of the hostages are 'dead,' others living in 'very difficult' conditions: Arab media
- Israeli ground troops still operating inside Nasser Hospital: IDF
- US strikes Houthi missiles after British ship attacked at Gulf of Aden
- IDF discovers boxes of medicines for hostages at Nasser Hospital: Local media
- Israel's Herzog held a secret meeting with Qatari PM to discuss truce negotiations: Report
Following two straight days of peace in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, Iran-backed Yemeni Houthis resumed their rampage, attacking a British merchant ship. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed that a commercial vessel was attacked.
Back in desolate Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back on Washington's calls for a Palestinian state. He said Palestinian statehood would be a "reward to terrorism."
His adamant stance on the matter draws from decades of violence in the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict that ultimately erupted on Oct. 7 when Hamas operatives plundered Israeli communities, murdering more than 1,200 people and abducting some 240 hostages, more than 130 of which are still being held in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the embattled United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is faced with more questions as Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant revealed Friday that more than a thousand personnel of the humanitarian agency "are known to be active" within Hamas and its ally, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).
The live update has ended.
Israeli president met with Qatari PM to discuss hostage deal: Report
Israeli President Isaac Herzog had a secret meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani Friday on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference to talk about negotiations for a ceasefire-hostage deal, Axios political reporter Barak Ravid reported, citing two sources with knowledge of the matter.
Scoop: Israeli president Isaac Herzog held a secret meeting today with the prime minister of Qatar Mohammed Bin Abdul Rhaman al-Thani on the sidelines of the munich security conference to discuss the hostage negotiations, two source with knowledge of the meeting told me
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) February 16, 2024
This comes as Egyptian and Qatari mediators push Israel and Hamas to agree to a proposed ceasefire plan that could see the remaining hostages in Gaza freed.
