As Israel attacked the vicinity of the Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, causing panic among sheltering civilians, Israeli drone strikes killed 7 in the West Bank. Qatar brokers deal to allow medical aid to reach Israeli captives and Gaza hospitals.
Casualties
- 24,448+ killed* and at least 61,504 wounded in the Gaza Strip.
- 387+ Palestinians killed in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem
- Israel revises its estimated October 7 death toll down from 1,400 to 1,147.
- 547 Israeli soldiers killed since October 7, and at least 3,221 injured.**
*This figure was confirmed by Gaza’s Ministry of Health on January 16. Some rights groups put the death toll number at more than 31,000 when accounting for those presumed dead.
**This figure is released by the Israeli military.
Key Developments
- Qatari-mediated deal reached between Israel and Hamas, which allows aid supplies to be delivered to Palestinians and medicines to Israeli captives in Gaza Strip.
- Hamas says it turned down request by France to inspect medical packages “due to our lack of confidence in the French government”.
- Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau chief Wael Al-Dahdouh arrives in Doha to receive medical treatment after he was injured in an Israeli bombing.
- Der Spiegel magazine reveals that Germany is planning to send thousands of tank shells to Israeli forces.
- Hamas says Germany’s decision to send ammunition to Israel “turns [it] into a direct partner in the war against our people in Gaza.”
- The Council of the European Union adds Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar to sanctions list, freezing his assets and funds in Europe, if he had any.
- Far-right National Security Minister criticizes Israeli government decision to pull out 36th Division from Gaza, saying it is “blunder that will lead to damage”.
- Hamas’s Izz El-Din Al-Qassam Brigades releases video of targeting Israeli armoured personal carrier in Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood with an explosive and anti-tank Al-Yaseen shell.
- Israeli drone strike kills three Palestinians in vehicle near Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus.
ISRAEL’S GENOCIDE IN GAZA CONTINUES
U.N. chief Antonio Guterres said that parties to the war in Gaza were “trampling” on international law. Describing the conflict as “gut-wrenching,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for a Palestinian state with a government structure “that gives people what they want and works with Israel to be effective.”
Gazans now make up 80 percent of all people facing famine or catastrophic hunger around the world
In a report published Tuesday, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights warned that Gazans now make up 80 percent of all people facing famine or catastrophic hunger around the world, as a result of Israel’s systematic bombardment and blockade of food, water, medicine and electricity. The report warned: Currently, every single person in Gaza is hungry. A quarter of the population is starving and struggling to find food and drinkable water, and famine is imminent. Pregnant women are not receiving adequate nutrition and healthcare, putting their lives at risk. In addition, all children under five – 335,000 – are at high risk of severe malnutrition as the risk of famine conditions continues to increase. A whole generation is now in danger of suffering from stunting.
Israel Concludes Intense Military Phase, Hamas Launch Major Rocket Attack.
As Israel’s Defense Minister Gantz presented the government with a war plan for the upcoming three months, the intense military operations in northern Gaza have come to a close, and operations in Khan Yunis are nearing their conclusion. The declaration of Hamas’s defeat in northern Gaza has led to a reduction in operations there, but Israeli soldiers continue to identify and destroy remaining Hamas positions. Hamas has reported on Al Jazeera facing Israeli incursions in northern Gaza. On the 103rd day of the conflict, reports highlight fierce battles in Khan Yunis, confirming ongoing clashes and escalating violence. The report draws attention to a surprise for both Americans and Israelis regarding the network of tunnels used by their forces. Al Jazeera’s reports indicate heavy clashes between the resistance and the Israeli army in Khan Yunis, with a focus on preventing the army’s advance towards Nasser Hospital amidst Israeli artillery shelling. Meanwhile, Israeli newspapers have announced the discovery of one hundred missile sites and sixty ready-to-launch missiles in Beit Lahia near the Israeli border. Palestinian groups in Gaza launched over 50 rockets at southern Israel on Tuesday in one of the recent major attacks. These rockets primarily targeted the southern city of Netivot, triggering sirens in the city and surrounding areas. At least one rocket struck the city, resulting in damage to a storefront and other property, with no reports of injuries. These updates provide a comprehensive view of the military tactics and strategies used in the conflict, reflecting the increasing complexity of the situation in Gaza due to ongoing clashes and shelling, and highlighting the escalating tensions in this ongoing conflict. On Wednesday morning, Israel time, Al Jazeera reported that Israeli forces raided the city of Ramallah in the West Bank. This incursion follows a series of Israeli military operations across the West Bank, including in Ras al-Jura, Deir Baha, and Al-Jalda in Hebron, as well as in the Kfar Saba neighborhood and the towns of Azzun and Kafr Thulth in Qalqilya.
Qatar has brokered a deal between Israel and Hamas that will allow medicines to be delivered to Israeli hostages in Gaza in exchange for the delivery of humanitarian aid and medicines to Palestinian civilians. The aid will leave Doha today and head to Gaza through Egypt, although no timeline for the delivery was provided. Tara John and Eyad Kourdi report for CNN.
Israeli forces are moving toward the largest hospital in Khan Younis, prompting many patients and sheltering Gazans to flee, according to medical staff working at the hospital and local journalists. Multiple videos show dozens of people carrying mattresses and babies as they leave the Al Nasser hospital. Kareem Khadder, Abeer Salman, Alex Marquardt and Hamdi Alkhshali report for CNN.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) say they killed a senior Palestinian militant in an airstrike early this morning in the occupied West Bank. Ahmed Abdullah Abu Shalal was killed along with four others in the Balata refugee camp in Nablus. The Palestinian Red Crescent said Israeli forces prevented medics from attending the site, saying “gunfire was directed at our teams.” Mushtaq Yusufzai and Jennifer Jett report for NBC News.
The Palestinian death toll has exceeded 24,285, of which 75% are children, women, and elderly people, the Hamas-run health ministry said yesterday. It added that a further 158 people were killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza over the past 24 hours.
REGIONAL RESPONSE
Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said yesterday it could recognize Israel if a comprehensive agreement was reached that included statehood for Palestinians. Maha El Dahan reports for Reuters.
The Greater Goal in Gaza, For Lasting Peace, Israel Must End Its Occupation of Palestinian Land
“The reconstruction of Gaza could become a step along the road to a final settlement [about the enclave’s future], with parties such as Gulf states, the European Union, and the World Bank ready to take part in ways they are not today,” the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s Marwan Muasher, a former Jordanian official, writes for Foreign Affairs
INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
The Palestinians’ top envoy to the United Kingdom, Husam Zomlot, accused the British government of “double standards and hypocrisy” in its policies toward them, including opposing South Africa’s application at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide. Israel. Raffi Berg reports for BBC News.
6-Renewed Tensions in Turkish-American and Israeli Relations.
According to a report by Turkey’s “Hürriyet” newspaper, the United States and Israel continue to incite the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) against Turkey. Turkey, maintaining a firm stance, has declared no change in its military strategy in Northern Iraq, emphasizing the continuation of its operations against both the PKK and ISIS. Sources indicate that under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s leadership, Turkey is shifting towards greater independence from the U.S. and asserting itself as a significant global player. Analysis, including those published in “Foreign Affairs” magazine, highlights Turkey’s growing role in global challenges, particularly in military technology and the defense industry.Turkish unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are playing a pivotal role in this arena, bolstering Turkey’s position as a technological competitor on the world stage. CTech, a Turkish firm specializing in communication technologies and cybersecurity, has received a proposal from NATO for the purchase of its satellite communication products. This offer signifies recognition of Turkey’s technological advancements, especially considering the success of platforms like ANKA-S, TB-2, and ANKA-3 in enhancing Turkey’s defense capabilities. CTech’s CEO, Junaid Farat, points to the strategic importance of developing these systems using local and national resources. The company specifically focuses on communication technologies and information security, with a strong emphasis on cybersecurity in its offerings.
Iran’s Military Operations in Syria: Escalation and Regional Impacts.
Amidst evolving security dynamics in Syria, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has executed long-range missile strikes on several targets within Syrian territory. According to official Iranian statements, these strikes aimed at ISIS locations were in retaliation to previous attacks. However, other reports indicate that the strikes resulted in casualties at a medical facility in rural Idlib, raising questions about the accuracy of the declared targets. There were also reports of Israel launching missiles towards Syria last night, which the Syrian air defenses reportedly intercepted, as stated by Syrian regime sources. Nevertheless, no confirmation of these reports was found in global, regional, or local media outlets specializing in direct news coverage of bombings in northeastern Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights initially reported the bombing as Israeli but later corrected the information, indicating the missiles’ origins were unknown. Additionally, some experts suggested the possibility of the missiles being Iranian.
Following these operations, U.S. forces in the region have heightened security measures, including the removal of the American flag from one of the potential target bases. This development signifies escalating tensions between Iran and other military powers active in the region. Complicating the regional military dynamics further, Russia has deployed additional forces in northern Deir Ezzor, impacting the current balances. These Iranian attacks clearly indicate Tehran’s readiness for military escalation, with significant political implications for regional conflict parties. These events also directly affect international relations, especially between Iran and Western countries, including the United States, highlighting the security and political challenges in the Middle East.
Possible Scenarios of Iranian Military Strikes: In a conversation with the AI program Data Analyst regarding potential scenarios for Iranian military operations, the analyst considered the field to be variable and complex, depending on several interrelated factors. The following scenarios were outlined:
- Continuation of Iranian missile strikes: Iran might continue using missile strikes as a means to exert political and military pressure, especially if it feels a direct threat to its interests.
- Escalation of tensions with the United States: Iranian military actions could lead to increased tensions with U.S. forces in the region, raising the likelihood of clashes.
- Fueling local conflicts: Iranian strikes could escalate conflicts in Syria, particularly among different armed factions.
- Israeli response: Israel, concerned about Iranian influence in Syria, might increase its military intervention in response to Iranian activities. Interventions by other international powers: Developments might compel regional and international powers to intervene or adjust their policies in response to new developments. Data Analyst emphasized that these predictions are based on the analysis of current and past conditions and remain open to change with the evolution of events. The situation in the Middle East is characterized by complexity and constant change, and any slight shift in variables can lead to significant transformations in these scenarios.
U.S. RESPONSE
The U.S. Senate rejected a resolution yesterday that would have frozen security aid to Israel unless the State Department produces a formal report within 30 days on whether Israel has committed human rights violations in its military campaign in Gaza. Seventy-two senators voted to set the resolution aside, while 11 supported it. The vote was forced by Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT). Patricia Zengerle reports for Reuters.
US Senate rejects measure to force human rights report on Israel
The US Senate rejected a resolution that would have forced the State Department to produce a report within 30 days examining whether Israel committed human rights violations in its campaign against Hamas in Gaza. As voting continued, 54 senators voted to set the resolution aside, thus meaning it could not move ahead in the 100-member Senate. The vote was forced by Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats. While the measure was handily defeated, it reflected growing concern among some of President Joe Biden’s fellow Democrats, especially on the left, over the supply of US weapons to Israel despite the Gaza conflict’s steep toll on Palestinian civilians. The White House had said it opposed the resolution, which could have paved the way toward the imposition of conditions on security assistance to Israel. The US gives Israel $3.8 billion in such assistance each year, ranging from fighter jets to powerful bombs that could destroy Hamas tunnels. Biden has asked Congress to approve an additional $14 billion.
Sullivan: U.S. post-war strategy links Saudi-Israel peace deal with two-state solution
Saudis could recognise Israel if Palestinian issue resolved – foreign minister.
- Saudi minister: regional peace hinges on a Palestinian state
- Push for Saudi-Israel diplomatic ties derailed by Gaza war
- Prince Faisal says Gaza ceasefire is now first priority
Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said on Tuesday the kingdom could recognise Israel if a comprehensive agreement were reached that included statehood for the Palestinians, ambitious talk as the war between Israel and Hamas shows no sign of easing.
“We agree that regional peace includes peace for Israel, but that could only happen through peace for the Palestinians through a Palestinian state,” Prince Faisal bin Farhan told a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
In speeches yesterday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan both said (Axios) that in light of the war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, a previously floated proposal for Saudi-Israeli normalization is still possible (Reuters) if there is a pathway to the creation of a Palestinian state. Sullivan laid out four principles for U.S. thinking regarding the postwar status quo in the region, including that the Gaza Strip is not used for attacks on Israel, there is peace between Israel and Arab countries in the region, there is a state for Palestinians, and that Israel receives security assurances.
Also speaking at Davos, Jordan’s Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh said yesterday that Jordan believes (Reuters) peace with Israel is a strategic choice while echoing calls for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israeli President Isaac Herzog was expected to speak at the forum today and call for increased pressure (Bloomberg) on Hamas to release hostages it still holds after its October 7 attacks.
WASHINGTON STRUGGLES TO STEM THE SLIDE TOWARD REGIONAL WAR
Bottom Line Up Front:
* Washington appears to be failing in its core goal of limiting the expansion of the Israel-Hamas war, with all of Tehran’s proxies highly active in the region.
* U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s January trip through the Middle East, as well as other high-level U.S. diplomacy, has achieved no de-escalation of any of the region’s interconnected conflicts.
* U.S. retaliatory attacks have thus far failed to deter pro-Iranian armed factions from attacks on U.S. military assets and personnel, diplomatic facilities, and commercial shipping.
* Washington has been unable to persuade Israel’s government to back U.S. proposals for post-war governance in Gaza or a broader Israeli-Palestinian settlement.
HAMAS, INC.: THE PROPERTY EMPIRE THAT FUNDED MILITANT ATTACK ON ISRAEL
| “This investment network is directed by the highest levels of Hamas leadership and has allowed Hamas senior officials to live in luxury while ordinary Palestinians in Gaza struggle in harsh living and economic conditions.” The U.S. Treasury said in a statement. |
| Hamas is running a network of construction companies worth hundreds of millions, a Newsweek investigation has found. By examining business records and cross-referencing them with sanction lists, Newsweek discovered how Hamas uses key personnel to fuel its financial empire—often in places where it may find tacit approval. Extensive new links between companies and individuals that the U.S. says are funding Hamas operations have been discovered and include businesses in the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan—possibly expanding into Western Europe.Despite sanctions, Hamas’ web of companies is remarkable in size and complexity while enriching senior figures. The Israeli embassy says that Hamas Political Bureau deputy chair Moussa Abu Marzouk is worth $3 billion, while senior leaders Khaled Mashal and Ismail Haniyeh are worth about $4 billion each. Israel’s assault on Gaza is unlikely to stop the flow of funds from abroad. Expert in terrorism financing Stephen Reimer told Newsweek financial crime regulation of construction, property development, and real estate industries is “fairly weak globally,” as Hamas-connected developers fund and sell property units to homeowners unaware that their purchases helped grow the militant organization. |
On January 5, the Biden administration offered a reward of up to $10 million for information to dismantle the group’s economic foundations. The Rewards for Justice Program aims to disrupt the broader network that sustains Hamas, including targeting any source of revenue, significant donors, financial facilitators, and financial institutions that facilitate transactions for the group. The program also focuses on businesses or investments owned or controlled by Hamas or its financiers and front companies engaged in procuring dual-use technology and criminal schemes that benefit the organization financially.
IRAN-BACKED MILITANTS
The Biden administration is expected to soon redesignate the Houthis as specially designated global terrorists, according to two people familiar with the decision and a U.S. official. The Houthis were delisted as both specially designated global terrorists and as a foreign terrorist organization in February 2021 as Washington attempted to facilitate food imports and aid into Yemen. Aamer Madhani, Matthew Lee, and Zeke Miller report for AP News.
Iran hit the Jaish al-Adl jihadist group in the Balochistan region of Pakistan with a missile and drone strike yesterday, Iranian state media has reported. Islamabad condemned the attack and said it killed two children and injured three. Pakistan’s ministry of foreign affairs said, “This violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty is completely unacceptable and can have serious consequences.” Saaed Shah and Benoit Faucon report for the Wall Street Journal.
Iraq recalled its ambassador from Tehran and summoned Iran’s chargé d’affaires in Baghdad yesterday in protest over Iranian strike on northern Iraq that killed several civilians on Monday, the Iraqi foreign ministry said. The Iranian attack was “a blatant violation” of Iraq’s sovereignty and “strongly contradicts the principles of good neighborliness and international law, and threatens the security of the region,” the ministry said. Salar Salim and Omar Albam report for AP News.
The United States has condemned Iran over the attacks in Kurdistan and Syria, calling them as “reckless and imprecise.” Iran’s Revolution Guards said they struck what they claimed were Israeli “spy headquarters.” George Wright and David Gritten reports for BBC News.
MILITARY CONFLICT WITH HOUTHIS
The United States carried out a military strike against Houthi ballistic missiles in Yemen yesterday, the U.S. military said, as the Houthis fired missiles at passing ships for the third day in a row. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said, “We’re not looking for a war; we’re not looking to expand this. We will continue to defend against them and counter them as appropriate.” Eric Schmitt and Saeed Al-Batati report for the New York Times.
The Houthis “directly hit” a Greek-owned bulk vessel sailing from Vietnam to Israel yesterday, inflicting minor damage to the vessel, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said. The incident came as the U.S. military announced it had seized Iranian-supplied weapons sent to the Houthis last week. Kathryn Armstrong reports for BBC News.
A team of Navy SEALS that lost two sailors while searching a small boat off the Somali coast later found Iranian missiles bound for the Houthis, the U.S. Central Command said yesterday. CENTCOM added that the arms discovered by the SEALs were the same types of weaponry used by the Houthis in their Red Sea attacks. A search and rescue mission continues for the two SEALs who disappeared last Thursday. Courtney Kube and Alexander Smith report for NBC News.
British oil major Shell has suspended all shipments through the Red Sea due to the Houthis’ ongoing attacks, according to people familiar with the decision. Benoit Faucon and Jenny Strasburg report for the Wall Street Journal.
How the War in Gaza Revived the Axis of Resistance, Iran and Its Allies Are Fighting With Missiles and Memes
The only way to take the wind out of the axis’s sails is to end the war in Gaza and negotiate a real and just settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Unless this is done, the axis will be a regional reality that the United States will have to contend with for many years to come.
| U.S., Saudi Arabia Suggest Saudi-Israeli Normalization Is Linked to Palestinian StateIn speeches yesterday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan both said (Axios) that in light of the war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, a previously floated proposal for Saudi-Israeli normalization is still possible (Reuters) if there is a pathway to the creation of a Palestinian state. Sullivan laid out four principles for U.S. thinking regarding the postwar status quo in the region, including that the Gaza Strip is not used for attacks on Israel, there is peace between Israel and Arab countries in the region, there is a state for Palestinians, and that Israel receives security assurances. Also speaking at Davos, Jordan’s Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh said yesterday that Jordan believes (Reuters) peace with Israel is a strategic choice while echoing calls for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israeli President Isaac Herzog was expected to speak at the forum today and call for increased pressure (Bloomberg) on Hamas to release hostages it still holds after its October 7 attacks. |