© Reuters. An Israeli army ship sails within the Mediterranean Sea, amid the continuing battle between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as seen from Southern Israel, December 17, 2023. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne
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By Bassam Masoud, Phil Stewart and James Mackenzie
GAZA/MANAMA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) – A number of nations have agreed to collectively perform patrols within the southern Crimson Sea and Gulf of Aden to attempt to safeguard business delivery in opposition to assaults by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who say they’re supporting Palestinians below siege by Israel within the Gaza Strip.
A press release on Tuesday by U.S. Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin, on a go to to Bahrain, recognized a number of nations participating in a global power. It was unclear whether or not these nations are keen to do what U.S. warships have performed in latest days – shoot down Houthi missiles and drones and rush to assistance from business ships below assault.
“This is an international challenge that demands collective action. Therefore today I am announcing the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardian, an important new multinational security initiative,” the assertion stated.
It recognized taking part nations, led by the US, to incorporate, amongst others, the UK, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain.
The Houthis have waded into the Israel-Hamas battle by attacking vessels in important delivery lanes and even firing drones and missiles at Israel, greater than 1,000 miles from their seat of energy within the Yemeni capital of Sanaa.
The Houthi group stated on Monday it launched a drone assault on two cargo vessels in certainly one of its newest assaults within the area.
The Houthis have threatened to focus on all ships heading to Israel, no matter their nationality, and warned worldwide delivery corporations in opposition to coping with Israeli ports. On Monday, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthi politburo, instructed Al Jazeera his group would have the ability to confront any coalition fashioned by the US that might deploy to the Crimson Sea.
GAZA BATTLES RAGE ON
Early on Tuesday residents in areas of the southern Gaza Strip metropolis of Khan Younis reported fierce gun battles between Palestinian fighters and Israeli forces. Israeli tanks and planes bombed areas close to the town centre, residents stated.
The Gaza well being ministry stated on Monday that 19,453 Palestinians had been killed and 52,286 wounded within the Israeli assault on the Hamas-ruled enclave in additional than two months of warfare.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to attain complete victory over Hamas, whose fighters killed 1,200 individuals and took 240 hostages in a shock Oct. 7 raid into Israel, in line with Israeli tallies.
Israel’s intensifying retaliation in opposition to Hamas has elevated concern amongst governments and worldwide organisations over the Gaza civilian dying toll, starvation and homelessness.
Father-of-four Raed, 45, who has moved his household twice, stated Gazans had been exhausted making an attempt to remain alive.
“Money has lost its value, most of the items are not available. We rose from our beds after surviving a night of bombardment to tour the streets searching for food, we got tired,” he stated within the Rafah space. “We want peace, truce, ceasefire, whatever they call it, but please stop the war.”
Whereas in Israel on Monday, Austin stated Washington’s help for Israel was “unshakable” however he urged its ally to do extra to guard civilians.
HAMAS RELEASES HOSTAGE VIDEO
Three aged Israeli hostages, recognized by Israel as 79-year-old Chaim Peri, 80-year-old Yoram Metzger and 84-year-old Amiram Cooper, had been seen in a video launched by Hamas on Monday.
The three males, all with beards, are seen sitting subsequent to one another within the video, which Hamas posted to Telegram.
Sitting within the center, Peri speaks to the digital camera, saying he and different aged hostages who’ve well being points are “suffering greatly in very harsh conditions.”
He pleaded for Israel to safe their unconditional launch.
Israel and Hamas agreed to a week-long ceasefire on the finish of November, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, that included the discharge of greater than 100 hostages in Gaza in trade for 240 Palestinian ladies and youngsters from Israeli jails.
The heads of the U.S. CIA and Israel’s Mossad and Qatar’s prime minister had been anticipated to fulfill and talk about the attainable launch of extra hostages, U.S. officers stated on Monday.
