KEY POINTS
- Spanish ship departs for Gaza as groups raise alarm over impending famine
- Qatar hopes for Israel-Hamas ceasefire before end of Ramadan month
- US, UK reportedly launch operation at vicinity of Yemeni airport following Houthi attack on US destroyer
It's Day 159 of the Israel-Hamas war, and the terror group said its senior official was killed Wednesday in a drone strike that targeted a vehicle in southern Lebanon, marking the second time since Oct. 7 that a Hamas leader was assassinated while outside of Palestinian territory.
The fate of another leader in the militant group, Marwan Issa, the deputy head of Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades (military wing), is still unknown after he was targeted over the weekend in an Israeli strike in Gaza. Some local outlets reported that there are "no indications" he is alive after the targeted strike.
- US, allies reportedly planning commercial shipping route in expanded Gaza aid efforts
- Israeli general punished after unauthorized demolition of Gaza infrastructure: Local media
- US floats longer ceasefire to Hamas if it releases women, wounded and elderly
- Israel strikes Hezbollah infrastructure in tit-for-tat attacks
- UNRWA says 'scores injured' after one of its warehouses 'hit' amid raging war
- Netanyahu tells Rutte Rafah entry 'essential' in realizing Israel's war goals
Hezbollah said early Wednesday that it attacked a base of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the disputed Shebaa Farms. The IDF has been responding to rocket launches from Lebanese territory since Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre that saw militants killing more than a thousand people and abducting some 250 hostages.
In the troubled Red Sea and its surrounding waters, Iran-backed Houthis said they attacked container vessel Pinocchio, which they described as an "American ship." The Yemeni rebel militia also fired a close-range ballistic missile toward the USS Laboon in the Red Sea, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said early Wednesday.
Back in devastated Gaza, multiple countries, including the U.S., are hard at work to get more aid for civilians, who are suffering the consequences of a longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Germany has said it will join efforts to airdrop humanitarian supplies to the enclave, while other nations are also collaborating with Cyprus following the establishment of an aid maritime corridor.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is refusing to bend to international pressure over a ground raid of Rafah that U.S. President Joe Biden said would be a "red line." He said Israel would enter the overcrowded city and eliminate the last of Hamas operatives believed to be hiding in civilian infrastructure.
The live update has ended.
Netanyahu to Rutte: Rafah operation key to realizing Israel's war goals
The Israeli prime minister on Wednesday told his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte that "entering Rafah was essential for realizing the goals of the war and that unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state would be considered an achievement for Hamas," as per a release from Netanyahu's office.
He also urged the Dutch prime minister to join efforts in the global maritime corridor initiative to provide more humanitarian aid for Gaza civilians.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met today, at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. https://t.co/0ttfLqNStx pic.twitter.com/xqLOmX58Aa
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) March 13, 2024
This comes amid increasing global pressure on the Netanyahu administration to refrain from raiding Rafah, which currently shelters more than half of Gaza's total population.
Aid warehouse 'hit' in Gaza bombardment: UNRWA
One humanitarian aid warehouse of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has been "hit," resulting in "scores injured," AFP reported Wednesday, citing the agency's spokeswoman Juliette Touma.
She said the UN agency does not have information yet on what happened nor the exact number of UNRWA personnel affected by the incident. Gaza's Hamas-run healthy ministry said four people were killed in the "bombing of the [UNRWA] warehouse," as per the report.
Israeli warplanes attack Hezbollah military sites
Israeli fighter jets on Wednesday afternoon struck two "military structures" belonging to Hezbollah, which, like its ally Hamas, is backed by Iran.
לפני זמן קצר מטוסי קרב תקפו מבנה צבאי של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה במרחב קנטרה ותשתית צבאית של הארגון במרחב יעטר.
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) March 13, 2024
מוקדם יותר היום הותקפה עמדת שיגור ומבנה צבאי של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה במרחב עלמא א-שעב pic.twitter.com/5ZmfLFAJIn
The strikes came after the powerful paramilitary group claimed it attacked an Israeli army base in the vicinity of the disputed Shebaa Farms.
IDF publishes footage of strike that killed Hamas 'key operative'
The Israeli army on Wednesday published footage of what it says was the strike that eliminated a Hamas "key operative" in Lebanon earlier in the day. Identified as Hadi Mustafa, the assassinated terror leader was allegedly a "leading activist in the construction department" of the Palestinian militant group, as per a Google translation of the IDF's statement.
מוקדם יותר היום כלי טיס תקף באזור צור שבשטח לבנון את המחבל האדי עלי מצטפא, פעיל מרכזי בארגון הטרור חמאס השייך למרחב החוץ של הארגון.
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) March 13, 2024
האדי עסק בהכוונת חוליות ופעילויות טרור בשטח וכן קידם פיגועים נגד יעדים ישראליים ויהודים במדינות שונות ברחבי העולם>> pic.twitter.com/jnAXX55YWs
As reported earlier, Mustafa was described by Hamas' Al Aqsa channel as a "leader" of the Iranian-backed terror organization's armed wing.
US offers longer ceasefire to Hamas if women, injured, elderly freed
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said a "ceasefire is on the table today, for six weeks to be built on into something more enduring if Hamas would simply release women, wounded and elderly."
The U.S. offer comes as Hamas continues to make demands that Netanyahu has described as "delusional." The Palestinian terror group has repeatedly said it wants the Israeli army's full withdrawal from Gaza before a truce takes place. It also wants some of the most notorious Palestinian detainees freed from Israeli jails.
Israeli general punished for unauthorized Gaza demolition
Israeli Brig. Gen. Barak Hiram has been punished for acting without authorization from higher ranks when he ordered the demolition of a university in the Gaza Strip where an underground tunnel network built by Hamas was located, the Jerusalem Post reported Wednesday, citing the IDF.
"The investigation [into the incident] revealed that Hamas used the building and its surroundings for military activities against our forces, but the demolition process was carried out without the necessary approvals," the IDF said.
Hiram is also waiting on IDF chief of staff Herzi Halevi's decision regarding the former's move of allowing a military tank to fire at a residential property where Israeli civilians were being held by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, the outlet added.
Israeli army sources told the outlet that the said case, wherein tank fire posed a serious threat to the lives of hostages, could reduce Hiram's chances of retaining his leadership position as it was being reviewed by the higher ranks as a "legal dilemma."
US, allies mull commercial shipping aid route for Gaza: Report
Washington and its allies are considering the possibility of sending aid to Gaza by sea in a privately-run operation, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing a U.S. official and three people familiar with the planning.
While the U.S. will not fund the mission, it will reportedly ask its allies for funding support through an international foundation that would accept aid financing from global governments and other private sources.
Two sources told the outlet that if the project comes into fruition, 200 truck-load equivalent containers of humanitarian aid can be delivered to the enclave daily.
US-UK forces launch attack around Hodeidah airport: Houthi media
The U.S.-UK joint forces have launched three raids on Hodeidah International Airport in Yemen, Sky News in Arabic reported Wednesday, citing Houthi-linked media. The allied nations have yet to deny or confirm the report.
The report comes following an attack on a U.S. Navy destroyer Tuesday by the Iranian-backed Yemeni rebel militia.
Qatar hopes for ceasefire before April 9
Majed al Ansari, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson, on Wednesday said the country was "unwavering" in efforts to get Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire agreement before April 9, which is the end of the Muslim Ramadan month.
He said Qatar, a key mediator for truce negotiations alongside Egypt, will continue to push for a deal, considering the "extremely complex" situation in Gaza.
Official Spokesperson for Ministry of Foreign Affairs @majedalansari Highlights Qatar's Unwavering Support for Gaza Cease-fire Amid Deteriorating Humanitarian Situation
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) March 12, 2024
🔗To learn more: https://t.co/ahEKAvWfnT#MOFAQatar pic.twitter.com/kR3sUlGI46
Spanish aid ship leaves for Gaza
A Spanish aid boat departed for Gaza Wednesday, paving the way for more humanitarian aid to enter the war-torn enclave.
Multiple countries have been working to get more aid for Palestinian civilians as humanitarian groups warn that the Strip may suffer from famine soon.
Read the full story here.
Israel will 'finish the job in Rafah': Netanyahu
The Israeli prime minister has yet again reiterated that no one can stop Israel from entering Rafah, an overcrowded city in southern Gaza that is believed to be the temporary home of more than a million Palestinian civilians who were displaced by the Israel-Hamas war.
"We will finish the job in Rafah while enabling the civilian population to get out of harm's way," he said late Tuesday, adding that the Israeli army has taken measures to minimize civilian casualties in the area.
His remarks came as the U.S. and other Israeli allies continue to pile pressure on his government to refrain from launching a ground raid of Rafah due to the massive civilian population in the area.
Germany to join airdropping efforts for Gaza civilians
Germany on Wednesday announced it was joining global efforts to provide more humanitarian aid for Gaza civilians through an air bridge operation, AFP reported. A joint German-French air transport squadron will be deployed to participate in the mission, the German defense ministry said.
The news comes amid mounting concerns over the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
Houthis fire missile at US Navy destroyer: CENTCOM
The Yemeni rebel militia early on Tuesday attempted an attack on the U.S. warship USS Laboon, CENTCOM said Wednesday. The Houthis fired one close-range ballistic missile from Houthi-held areas of Yemen toward the U.S. Navy destroyer but it did not impact the vessel and no damage or injuries were reported.
March 12 Red Sea Update
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 13, 2024
Between 2:00 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. (Sanaa time) on March 12, Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired one close-range ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward USS Laboon in the Red Sea. The missile did not impact the vessel and there were… pic.twitter.com/j5zbl159EG
USS Laboon was deployed to the Red Sea as part of global efforts to protect commercial shipping lanes from Houthi attacks.
Houthis claim attack on 'American' ship
Yahya Sare'e, the Iranian-backed Houthis' spokesman, late on Tuesday claimed that the rebel militia attacked merchant container vessel Pinocchio, which it was an "American ship."
Pinocchio is a Liberian-flagged vessel, as per maritime data providers. The U.S. army has since confirmed the attack, but noted that the vessel was Singaporean-owned. No injuries or damage were reported from the attack, as per CENTCOM.
Hezbollah claims attack on IDF base in Shebaa Farms
Iranian-backed Hezbollah early on Wednesday claimed an attack on an Israeli army base in the disputed Shebaa Farms.
The Shebaa Farms is a territory near the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. The area, which is rich in farmland, was recognized in the 2000s as Syrian territory. Syria and Lebanon, on the other hand, say it is within Lebanese territory. Israel seized it during the 1967 Middle East war.
Issa remains 'out of touch': Local media
Hamas' military wing deputy leader remains "out of touch" as of Wednesday, Israeli Channel 12 reported, and there are "no indications" he is still alive as the IDF continues to assess the aftermath of the underground strike late Saturday that targeted Issa.
New details regarding the targeted strike have also emerged, as per the outlet, revealing that there was an attempt by Hamas militants to try and rescue Issa, but the Israeli army attacked the terror group's heavy equipment to block the salvage attempts.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, chief of the IDF's spokesperson's unit, said Tuesday that the Israeli army was still reviewing the results of the airstrike and assessments were taking much more time due to the fact that the operation targeted an underground compound in the Nuseirat camp vicinity.
תקיפת מתחם תת-קרקעי של בכירי חמאס במרכז רצועת עזה pic.twitter.com/o482DUq6Q6
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) March 11, 2024
'Senior' Hamas official killed in Israeli drone strike in Lebanon
Hamas on Wednesday confirmed the death of a member of the Palestinian terror group following a drone strike targeting a vehicle in the outskirts of the Palestinian refugee camp Rashidieh in southern Lebanon.
A Hamas source told Reuters that the targeted member was Hadi Mustafa, but denied that he was a senior official in the group as per reports from multiple local and Arab outlets. On the other hand, Hamas' Al Aqsa channel said Mustafa was "a leader of the group's armed wing" as per Reuters.
Local N12 News also referred to Mustafa as a "senior official" of Hamas. The Israeli army has since confirmed the killing of Mustafa, describing him as a "significant" operative of Hamas. He was also accused of spearheading attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets.
חמאס מודה בכרוז רשמי: בכיר שלנו חוסל היום בלבנון. בישראל טרם קיבלו אחריות על התקיפה בפאתי מחנה פליטים פלסטיני | כל הפרטיםhttps://t.co/hDG8uuwUQ1 | @sapirlipkin pic.twitter.com/bq83xrYzd3
— החדשות - N12 (@N12News) March 13, 2024
The assassination of Mustafa marks only the second time a senior Hamas official was eliminated outside Palestinian territory. The first operation against a key figure in Hamas leadership was pulled off in Lebanon earlier this year, when Hamas number two Saleh al-Arouri was assassinated in a drone strike that has been blamed on Israel. Al-Arouri was killed in an area known as a Hezbollah stronghold.
