An oil tanker caught fire in the Gulf of Aden after being hit by a missile fired by the Iran-backed Houthi rebel group on Friday.
The Houthis say they are taking revenge for recent strikes targeting their infrastructure in Yemen by the US and British armies. These attacks aim to prevent the Houthis from disrupting global shipping in the region.
It all stems from Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza: The Houthis say their actions are aimed at pressuring Israel to stop its ground offensive and large-scale bombing of the Palestinian enclave.
The United States sent a destroyer — which was itself the target of Houthi fire on Friday, according to U.S. Central Command — to answer the merchant ship’s distress call.
It’s just the latest example of simmering tensions in the Middle East, as world leaders try to contain the ripple effects of the war in Gaza.
Here’s what to know today:
Allegations against UN staff in Gaza: The Israeli Foreign Ministry said it expects the main UN relief agency in Gaza to conduct an urgent internal investigation after it dismissed employees allegedly involved in the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
An Israeli official told CNN on Friday that Israel has shared all the information it has about the 12 employees at the heart of the stunning allegations with both the United States and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
The head of UNRWA had previously pledged to investigate these allegations. These allegations have jeopardized the group’s ability to provide much-needed humanitarian aid in the enclave.
Increasing pressure to release hostages: The United States says there are “no imminent developments” on an agreement to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza, even as it organizes a wave of diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement.
The White House coordinator for Middle East affairs concluded his meetings in the region on Friday, while CIA Director Bill Burns is scheduled to meet in the coming days with the intelligence chiefs of Israel and Egypt and the Qatari prime minister to discuss reaching an agreement.
Meanwhile, Hamas released a heavily edited video showing three hostages, in an apparent attempt to increase pressure on Israeli leaders.
Deteriorating conditions for medical workers in Gaza: Vital medical services at Nasser Hospital, the largest operating hospital in the Gaza Strip, “collapsed,” according to Doctors Without Borders. Intense fighting around the hospital has made resupplying the medical center risky.
The United Nations said on Thursday that less than half of Gaza’s hospitals were still partially functioning. Areas that remain open face shortages of staff, basic medical supplies, fuel, food and drinking water.
Today’s ruling by the UN Supreme Court: The UN Secretary-General said he hoped Israel would comply with today’s order by the International Court of Justice, which called on the country to prevent genocide in Gaza, but stopped short of calling for a ceasefire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the ruling as a rejection of what he called “discrimination” against his country, while the Palestinian Authority and South Africa said it represented a victory for human rights.
