19- Nov-2023- News Agencies
- Yemen’s Houthi rebels seized an Israeli-linked cargo ship in the Red Sea and took two dozen crew members hostage, raising fears of escalation in Israel’s war on Gaza.
- Thirty-one prematurely born babies have been evacuated from al-Shifa Hospital and taken to the European and Nasser hospitals in the south.
US demands Houthis release captured ship and crew
We just got a response to this from the US National Security Council, the top body of advisers to the White House.
“The Houthi’s seizure of the vessel Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea is a flagrant violation of international law. We demand the immediate release of the ship and its crew. We will consult with our UN partners for the appropriate next steps.”
The US has beefed up its presence since the start of the war in the seas of the Middle East. They sent two aircraft carriers with accompanying warships in their words “to assist with the defence of Israel”.
But they obviously haven’t been able to prevent this happening in this case.
An aircraft lands on the US aircraft carrier USS Dwight D Eisenhower in the eastern Mediterranean Sea [File: Bram Janssen/AP
Gaza gov’t: 13,000 Palestinians killed, 30,000 injured
At least 13,000 Palestinians have been killed and 30,000 wounded in Gaza since Israel launched its attacks following October 7.
At least 5,500 of the dead are children and 3,500 are women, Gaza’s government media office said.
Israel says about 1,200 people died in the Hamas attack on October 7.
Gaza’s health ministry is the only official source for Gaza casualties. Israel has sealed Gaza’s borders, barring foreign journalists and humanitarian workers. In previous wars, the ministry’s counts have held up to UN scrutiny, independent investigations and even Israel’s tallies
Qatar PM to visit Russia, UK to press for Gaza ceasefire
Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, also Qatar’s foreign minister, will begin the Europe trip on Tuesday.
Foreign ministry spokesman Majed Alansari said the diplomatic mission is part of “official visits by a number of brotherly foreign ministers to some of the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council to push for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip”.
Sheikh Mohammed’s trip also includes Jordan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia, Nigeria, the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
“This step comes on behalf of all member states of the Arab League and the OIC to push for a real and serious political process to achieve a comprehensive and permanent peace,” Alansari said.
Macron to Netanyahu: ‘Too many civilian losses’
French President Emmanuel Macron told Israel’s prime minister there were “too many civilian losses” in Israel’s war in Gaza.
Macron reminded Netanyahu of the “absolute necessity to distinguish terrorists from the population”, the French presidency said.
He also condemned violence against Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank in a conversation with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas.
At least 42 journalists and media workers killed since October 7
The Committee to Protect Journalists says 37 of those killed were Palestinian, four were Israeli, and one was Lebanese.
It added that nine journalists have been injured, three are reported missing, while 13 have been arrested since the Gaza war began.
The media watchdog also said there are reports of multiple assaults, threats, cyberattacks, censorship, and killing of family members.
“CPJ emphasises that journalists are civilians … and must not be targeted by warring parties,” said Sherif Mansour, CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa programme coordinator.
“[Journalists] in Gaza in particular have paid, and continue to pay, an unprecedented toll and face exponential threats. Many have lost colleagues, families, and media facilities, and have fled seeking safety when there is no safe haven or exit.”
Houthi fighters captured ship in a helicopter raid: US officials
Two US defence officials told The Associated Press the Houthi rebels seized the Galaxy Leader vessel in the Red Sea on Sunday afternoon local time.
The rebels descended on the cargo ship by repelling down from a helicopter, the officials said, confirming details first reported by NBC News.
Ownership details in public shipping databases associated the ship’s owners with Ray Car Carriers, which was founded by Abraham “Rami” Ungar, who is known as one of the richest men in Israel.
Ungar told The AP he was aware of the incident but couldn’t comment as he awaited details. A 犀利士 ship linked to him experienced an explosion in 2021 in the Gulf of Oman.
The complex world of international shipping often involves a series of management companies, flags and owners stretching across the globe in a single vessel.
Our premises are inviolable’, UN chief says after school attacks
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says he’s “deeply shocked” that two UN schools were struck in less than 24 hours in the Gaza Strip, killing and injuring dozens of people – many women and children.
He noted the war displaced were hit “as they were seeking safety in United Nations premises”.
“Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians are seeking shelter at United Nations facilities throughout Gaza due to the intensified fighting. I reaffirm that our premises are inviolable,” Guterres said in a statement.
The war between Israel and Hamas is causing a “staggering and unacceptable number of civilian casualties” said Guterres, who again called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire
Israel blames Iran after Houthi rebels seize cargo ship in Red Sea
Yemen’s Houthis say they have taken control of an Israeli-owned ship in the southern Red Sea, with Israel describing the incident as an “Iranian act of terrorism” with consequences for international maritime security.
A Houthi military spokesman confirmed to Al Jazeera that its fighters hijacked the cargo ship.
Read more here.
