The Israeli Arrow anti-missile defence system successfully intercepted a ground-to-ground missile launched from Yemen on Sunday. The Israeli army stated that the missile failed to enter Israeli boundaries, with the activation of alarms in the Red Sea area of Eilat being a safeguarding measure against potential accident from the missile interception’s fallout.
Houthi military mouthpiece, Yahya Saree, claimed that multiple ballistic missiles were aimed at Eilat. He also claimed an attack on an American vessel in the Red Sea. He promised a “severe retaliation with no limitations”, stating the Houthis would persist in their assault on Israel so long as what he termed “aggression” towards Palestinians sustained.
Yemen acknowledged that Israel’s assault on the Red Sea port of Hodeida in Yemen on the previous evening resulted in the demise of six individuals and caused injuries to 80 others. This attack was in retaliation to a Houthi drone strike that killed a resident of Tel Aviv in the wee hours of Friday.
Israel’s defense minister Yoav Gallant claimed the effects of the conflict in Hodeida were being felt across the Middle East. He said, “The Houthis assaulted us over 200 times. The first time they harmed an Israeli citizen, we retaliated immediately and we will not hesitate to do so wherever necessary.”
The retaliatory strike, a significant 1,700km away from Israel, was one of the furthest in Israel’s history. It sends a stern message to Iran, the financier and arms supplier to the Houthis, indicating Israel’s ability to strike Tehran – a closer target – and its nuclear facilities.
António Guterres, secretary general of the United Nations, expressed profound concern regarding the assaults and the potential for further intensification of hostilities in the vicinity.
The Israeli military launched an assault on a dwelling in Nuseirat, situated in the core of Gaza, based on local updates that emerged on Sunday. Prior to the crippling attack, evacuation warnings were issued to inhabitants in the vicinity.
The ministry of health in Gaza, under Hamas administration, has issued reports stating fatalities of nearly 39,000 Palestinians, since the onset of the conflict from the 7th of October. The Israeli forces have declared 1,200 fatalities, along with 253 individuals taken hostage as a result of an unexpected Hamas raid on the same day. With the persistence of approximately 116 hostages within Gaza, Israel has gone on record confirming the death of 42 among them.
In the wake of discovering a significant volume of polio virus in the sewage of Gaza, the Israeli armed forces have made arrangements to execute a polio vaccination drive aimed at covering all the soldiers scheduled to enter Gaza. While the immunisation operation for the troops is set to be completed in the upcoming weeks, the army maintains that there are no traces of active polio infections among the populace of Gaza, based on their knowledge.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is scheduled to embark on his journey to the United States this Monday, leading up to his congress speech set for Wednesday. Anticipation is also on the rise, ahead of his proposed meeting with US President, Joe Biden, slated for Tuesday. The US harbours a keen interest to finalise an agreement pertaining to ceasefire in Gaza as well as a deal for hostage release. The US President is also looking forward to discussions about Israel’s perspective on post-war arrangements in Gaza.
Last Sunday saw Mr Netanyahu’s submission of a proposed resolution, expressing disapproval in response to the advisory opinion published last Friday by the International Court of Justice at The Hague. This reflects Israel’s opposition to the ruling that claimed Israeli occupation in Palestinian territories as illegal. According to the Israeli retort, “In their own land, and their everlasting capital, Jerusalem, the people of Israel do not stand as occupiers!”