Israel’s armed forces reported successfully intercepting a missile aimed at the nation, launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, which triggered air raid sirens in various central regions, including Tel Aviv, late Monday.
The Houthi group has been escalating their attacks on Israel, deploying both drones and missiles as well as striking shipping routes in the Red Sea. They maintain that these hostilities will continue until Israel agrees to a ceasefire regarding the situation in the Gaza Strip.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in a staggering loss of life, with reports indicating over 45,500 fatalities, more than half of whom are women and children, according to the region’s Health Ministry. The ministry’s figures do not specify the numbers of combatants versus civilians. Just on Monday, they stated that at least 27 individuals lost their lives due to Israeli airstrikes and bombings in a single day. The Israeli government asserts that its military operations target militants only.
In a separate development in Syria, Ukraine has expressed support for the recently established government that displaced Bashar Assad, a significant ally of Russia in the region. The Ukrainian foreign minister held discussions with Syria’s current leader during a trip to Damascus on Monday.
**Latest Updates: Humanitarian Situation in Gaza**
The United Nations humanitarian agency announced that Israeli authorities permitted a collaborative effort between the U.N. and the Palestinian Red Crescent to deliver crucial medical supplies, food, and water to patients in northern Gaza. This delivery occurred after patients were forced out of Kamal Adwan Hospital by Israeli soldiers and moved to the dysfunctional Indonesian Hospital. Some of these patients were reportedly detained by Israeli troops.
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that ten patients were evacuated from the Indonesian facility, four of whom were arrested at a checkpoint. Currently, seven patients, alongside 15 caregivers and health personnel, remain in a severely damaged facility lacking medical capabilities.
OCHA highlighted the severe impact of the ongoing Israeli offensives on health services and humanitarian access in Gaza, emphasizing that civilians are continuously affected by strikes that lead to deaths and injuries. They further noted that humanitarian movements have been significantly restricted, with over 60% of U.N.-coordinated movements facing denial or interference across Gaza in the last three days.
**Missile Intercepted**
In a separate report from Tel Aviv, the Israeli military confirmed the interception of a missile launched from Yemen by the Houthis, which resulted in air raid sirens activating throughout central Israel, including Tel Aviv. Thankfully, there were no injuries reported by Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency service.
The Houthis’ missile attacks and drone strikes against Israel, coupled with their assaults on maritime traffic in the Red Sea, continue unabated, asserting that they will persist unless Israel consents to a ceasefire in Gaza. Israel has retaliated with two waves of heavy strikes in Yemen in response to these missile assaults, and this latest incident raises the potential for further military actions. Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon promised a decisive response to Houthi provocations during a U.N. Security Council meeting on Monday.
**Conditions for Wounded Palestinians**
Wounded Palestinians described harrowing encounters with Israeli troops who expelled them from a hospital in northern Gaza during the weekend, exposing them to frigid winter conditions. One patient recounted that soldiers surrounded Kamal Adwan Hospital, setting nearby buildings ablaze. They reported that the hospital’s director was forced to evacuate patients within a strict timeline while facing gunfire as psychological pressure.
Following the expulsion, many patients found refuge at Ahli Hospital in Gaza City. Israel’s military claims that the hospital was used by Hamas militants and reported apprehending over 240 suspects, including Director Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, allegations that officials from the hospital have contested. Further accounts from patients describe a lack of food and water during their ordeal.
**Syria’s Crackdown on Loyalist Militias**
In Syria, the new government has increased military deployments in the suburb of Adra, reportedly searching for militia members loyal to the deposed President Bashar Assad. Observers noted that military police took several detainees during the operation aimed at capturing militia leaders.
Tensions have escalated in recent weeks across Syria, as clashes erupted between supporters of Assad and the new Islamist-led government. Subsequent reprisals have led to numerous deaths, mostly among the Alawite community, which historically aligns with Assad’s regime.
**International Appeals and Assistance**
The family of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya continues to seek international intervention for his release following his detention by Israeli forces. They report that he is being denied essential medical care and is held in insufficiently humane conditions at a detention center. The Israeli military claims he is being interrogated regarding potential terrorist involvement.
Israel maintains that its military operations have targeted Hamas, claiming militants previously disguised themselves as patients and attempted to escape through ambulances, though no substantial evidence has been provided. Physicians note that the overall health infrastructure in northern Gaza has collapsed, limiting medical support to the region.
In the backdrop of these developments, Ukraine’s foreign minister made a formal visit to Syria’s leadership, pledging additional support—including a significant shipment of wheat flour to aid in alleviating the nation’s severe food security challenges.
As Syria shifts away from its traditional alliances with Russia and Iran, this realignment poses interesting prospects for future diplomatic relations, which some hope may foster stability in a region that has long been mired in conflict. Meanwhile, Turkey expresses readiness to assist both Syria and Lebanon in tackling their energy shortages, further emphasizing its readiness to support the new administration in Syria as they navigate their reconstruction efforts.