- The World Health Organization (WHO) says it could not deliver food to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis despite a “serious shortage” after delays at checkpoints.
- “I witnessed two people suffocating to death from the overcrowding,” says Mercy Corps aid worker after a rare food delivery reached northern Gaza.
- “We don’t know where they were injured or even their names,” Dr Omar Abu Taha tells Al Jazeera as Palestinians bury dozens of bodies, released by Israel, in Rafah.
- Israeli troops have stormed al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis and are demanding doctors and displaced Palestinians evacuate, the Palestine Red Crescent says.
- At least 26,751 people have been killed and 65,636 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The death toll in Israel from the October 7 Hamas attacks stands at 1,139.
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Kataib Hezbollah announces halt of attacks on US forces
Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah has announced the suspension of hostile operations against US troops as Washington ponders its response to a deadly drone attack that killed three of its soldiers.
The group’s attempt to de-escalate late on Tuesday, which it said was motivated by a desire not to “embarrass” the Iraqi government, was met with some scepticism in the United States.
Read the full story here.
Coffins of Kataib Hezbollah members killed by US air strikes are carried through Najaf city in Iraq [Alaa al-Marjani/Reuters] -
Iran expresses confidence Israel’s leader soon out of power
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian says he imminently expects Israel’s beleaguered leader to be done as prime minister and the Gaza war to subsequently wind down.
“Diplomacy is moving forward on this path. Benjamin Netanyahu is nearing the end of his criminal political life,” said Amirabdollahian.
Fears of American strikes on Iranian territory have emerged after the deadly drone attack on a US base in Jordan. But Iran’s top diplomat played the threat down.
“The White House knows very well the solution to ending the war and genocide in Gaza and the current crisis in the region is political,” Amirabdollahian said.
On Sunday, an organisation calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq killed three US soldiers and wounded dozens of others in the drone strike. Washington blamed Iran and President Biden said on Tuesday said he’s decided how to respond, but reiterated the United States is not looking for a “wider war in the Middle East … that’s not what I’m looking for”.
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Houthis threaten more attacks on US-UK warships after missiles fired
Yemen’s Houthi militia has decided to keep up attacks on US and UK warships in the Red Sea in what it called “acts of self-defence”, stoking fears of long-term disruption to world trade.
The group said all US and UK warships participating in “aggression” against its country were targets. On Wednesday, the Houthis fired missiles at the US warship USS Gravely. The US Central Command said the Gravely shot down a Houthi missile late on Tuesday.
“The naval forces of the Yemeni armed forces, with the help of God Almighty, fired several missiles at the American destroyer USS Gravely in the Red Sea,” a Houthi statement said.
The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have been attacking ships in and around the Red Sea, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza war.
Houthi fighters and supporters [File: Khaled Abdullah/Reuters] -
EU to pick country to lead Red Sea command: Borrell
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says he is hopeful it could be decided later in the day which member state could lead the upcoming EU mission to protect vessels in the Red Sea, adding this operation could be launched before mid-February.
“We have to decide which country will take the command, where the headquarters will be and what navy assets the member states will provide,” he said before the start of an EU defence ministers meeting, adding he hopes the country leading the mission would be decided today.
“Not all member states will be willing to participate, but no one will obstruct … I hope that on the 17th of [February] the mission can be launched,” Borrell said.
He added the operation would be named Aspires, “which means protector”.
Source:https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/31/israels-war-on-gaza-live-severe-hunger-in-gaza-as-aid-trucks-surrounded