Efforts to fight Houthi assaults and de-escalate the Gaza battle are below manner – right here’s the newest updates.
Right here’s how issues stand on Monday, December 18, 2023:
Newest developments
- Oil costs rose practically 1 p.c in Asian commerce as Houthi assaults on ships within the Crimson Sea and decrease exports from Russia stoke provide fears.
- The Israeli military has been detaining Ahmed Muhanna, the director of Gaza’s al-Awda Hospital, in an unknown location, Gaza’s Ministry of Well being spokesperson Ashraf al-Qudra mentioned on Sunday evening.
- The Freedom Theatre in Jenin continues to demand the instant launch of its director, Mustafa Sheta, and appearing trainer Jamal Abu Joas.
- On Sunday, Israel’s army rejected claims that its forces “murdered” two women who have been sheltering in a Catholic church in Gaza.
- Israel’s army mentioned on Sunday that it had found the most important Hamas tunnel close to what was as soon as a busy crossing into Israel, reported The Related Press information company.
Human affect and combating
- Israeli air assaults on Jabalia refugee camp killed at least 90 individuals and wounded greater than 100 others, the Palestinian Wafa information company reported on Sunday.
- An Israeli assault on Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza in a single day Sunday killed 25 individuals, with 10 being from the identical household, reported Al Jazeera Arabic.
- Palestinian journalist Haneen Ali al-Qutshan was killed in an Israeli assault on Nuseirat, in keeping with the Palestinian media workplace. She was the ninety fifth Palestinian journalist or media employee to be killed for the reason that October 7 battle between Israel and Hamas broke out.
- As Palestinians within the enclave face starvation and elevated chilly, they rummaged through assist vans in giant crowds on Sunday.
- Israeli forces raided at the least six areas throughout the occupied West Financial institution in a single day, together with close to Ramallah and Bethlehem, in keeping with Wafa and Al Jazeera Arabic. A younger Palestinian in Nablus and two younger males in Qalqilya have been injured in firing.
Diplomacy
- United States Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin will arrive in Israel at the moment the place he’s anticipated to debate de-escalating the Israel-Gaza battle and announce an initiative for safety within the Crimson Sea.
- French Ministry for Europe and International Affairs condemned on Sunday the Israeli bombing of a residential constructing in Rafah that killed certainly one of its workers.
- In a press release launched on Sunday, the Palestinian International Ministry referred to as the go to by the “racist extremist” Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to the Psagot settlement an “act of organised state terrorism”.