At Least Palestinians Killed In Israeli Attack; Houthis Pledge To Continue Target Red Sea Vessels (image @EyeonPalestine)
Israel continued its attacks on Gaza while negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire talks are still on. At least eight Palestinians were killed. At least six of them were killed during drone attack near Netzarim Corridor, southeast of Gaza City. The Occupation Force (IOF) also opened fire on Palestinian homes in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.
The attacks took place while Hamas announced the start of a “new round of ceasefire negotiations” in Doha on Tuesday, saying it is dealing with the talks “positively and responsibly” as US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and delegates from Israel landed in the Qatari capital.
The first phase ended on March 1st, without an agreement on advancing to a second stage, which calls for the release of all remaining captives held by Hamas and an end to Israel’s war on Gaza.
Israel has blocked all aid into Gaza and cut off the electricity powering a water plant, as a bid to pressure Hamas into releasing all the hostages in one go, without a second phase, and without committing to call an end to the genocidal war.
Hamas rejected the proposal, accusing Israel of “cheap and unacceptable blackmail”. The resistant movement of the Strip also stated that they are ready for second stage negotiations. It also agreed to cede control of Gaza to a unity government, and backed an Egyptian-led proposal that calls for a transitional committee to administer the territory after the war.
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US held direct talk with Hamas for the first time since 1997, and Trump’s envoy Adam Boehler said the group has offered to give up political power and lay down arms for five to 10 years. Hamas has not comment on the remark yet.
Israel has blocked entry of urgently needed humanitarian aid to the war-battered Strip. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) says lifesaving supplies, including medicine, in Gaza are dwindling, as the blockade enters second week.
“It is inevitable that children and some of the most vulnerable people in Gaza will die, unless international governments exert serious pressure on Israel to allow supplies in. Words of concern are not enough; immediate action is necessary to stop people from starving”, said Islamic Relief, an aid group in Gaza.
On the other hand, Houthis, the militant group of Yemen, warned that they will continue the Red Sea attack, if Israel refuse to reopen crossings to Gaza and continue aid. The group warned shippers that “any Israeli vessel” travelling through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden is now a target. The statement follows a four-day deadline set by the rebels for Israel to resume aid shipments into Gaza.
“We hope it is understood that the actions taken by the [Houthi military] … stem from a deep sense of religious, humanitarian and moral responsibility toward the oppressed Palestinian people and aim to pressure the Israeli usurper entity to reopen the crossings to the Gaza Strip and allow the entry of aid, including food and medical supplies,” the statement said. The statement described the warning as taking hold in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Arabian Sea.
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The Houthis added that the “ban will remain in effect until the crossings to the Gaza Strip are reopened and humanitarian aid, including food and medical supplies, is allowed to enter”.
Houthis started attacking vessels passing through Red Sea after Israel started genocidal war on Gaza. The Yemeni group pledged to attack any ships having link with Israeli as a solidarity to Hamas and Palestinian civilians who were tortured under relentless Israeli bombing campaign. The rebel group had launched more than 100 attacks targeting shipping from November 2023. Several shipping companies opted for the Cape of Good Hope route of South Africa which is expensive and time consuming. After reaching Hamas-Israel ceasefire, the group halted attacks, but warned of resuming if Israel is to violate the agreement.
The Houthis have given Israel four days before reopening the crossings to Gaza, and continue the flow of aid. The Houthi officials emphasized that the Yemeni troops were fully prepared to reinitiate operations against the regime if humanitarian aid was not allowed into Gaza.
(With inputs from agencies)
