By Relatives of over 100 Israeli hostages held in Gaza intensify their protests, disrupting a parliamentary meeting and setting up tents outside PM Netanyahu’s home. They demand the government secure the release of their family members.
Pressure on Netanyahu grows amid heavy fighting in Gaza’s Khan Younis, resulting in numerous casualties. Communication services in Gaza experience the 10th blackout, leaving the territory isolated. UN reports reveal one in four people in Gaza is starving due to the conflict and Israeli restrictions on aid delivery.
In other developments, Iran’s involvement in ship attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels is emphasized by the US Navy. The US ends a rescue search for Navy SEALs lost in a raid on a ship with Iranian weapons. Sanctions are imposed on an Iraqi airline and its CEO for alleged support to Iran’s military, and Hamas faces its fifth round of sanctions for cryptocurrency misuse since the October 7 attack on Israel.
The escalating situation prompts EU ministers to assert that a Palestinian state is crucial for Middle East peace. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia insists on a credible path to a Palestinian state for any normalization with Israel.
The complexities of the conflict continue to unfold, impacting both the humanitarian and geopolitical aspects of the region.
