KEY POINTS

  • Senior Hamas official says killing of 3 American servicemen a warning to Washington
  • 'Significant gaps' remain in talks toward a possible ceasefire-hostage deal
  • Hezbollah chief tells US to leave Middle East
Live Updates
An Israeli tank returns from war-torn Gaza on January 28, 2024
An Israeli tank returns from war-torn Gaza on January 28, 2024. The fighting in Gaza continues as tensions reach concerning highs in the Middle East - Republican senators are calling for a "devastating" military response following the first personnel losses of the U.S. military in the region since the war started. AFP

As tensions in the Middle East continue to reach distressing highs due to disruptions caused by Iranian-backed militias, the Israel-Hamas war rages on and is now in its 115th day.

Three more countries have joined the United States, the United Kingdom and several other nations that first suspended funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) over allegations that some of its personnel were involved in terror activities.

  • Trump reacts to killing of 3 US soldiers in Jordan, blames Biden
  • UNRWA employee accused of direct participation in Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre
  • Iran's foreign minister in Pakistan after tit-for-tat strikes
  • Iran executes 4 accused of affiliation with Israel's Mossad
  • Houthis claim they attacked US Navy frigate Lewis B. Puller
  • 2 slightly injured after launches from Lebanon toward Israeli military base: Local media
  • Republican senators press Biden to take military action after 3 US servicemen killed
  • Austria suspends UNRWA funding
  • US denies Navy ship attacked after Houthis' claim: Report
  • Israel approves UN delegation's visit to northern Gaza: Report
  • 2 Israeli hostages being held in UNRWA teacher's home: Israel
  • Iraq condemns attack in Jordan, calls for end to 'cycle of violence'
  • Romania freezes funding for UNRWA pending investigation
  • Houthis turn hijacked Galaxy Leader into 'tourist attraction'
  • No additional funding to UNRWA foreseen until end of February: European Commission

The military wing of Fatah, another major Palestinian faction, announced the assassination of a field commander in Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

U.S. President Joe Biden vowed that there will be a response to the killing of three U.S. servicemen in a drone attack on American forces in Jordan.

In the tension-packed Red Sea, Yemeni Houthi rebels attacked another commercial vessel, this time causing a "major fire" as the ship was carrying Naphtha.

Israel's northern border with Lebanon remains a major point of concern in the international community due to continuing fire exchanges between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, another pro-Iran paramilitary group that, like the Houthis, said attacks targeting Israel were a show of solidarity with Hamas.

In Gaza, the IDF continues to focus its ground and air operations in Khan Yunis, the enclave's second-largest city and a Hamas stronghold that was found to have massive tunnel networks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre of more than 1,200 people in Israel will be avenged. He also promised to bring home the remaining hostages taken from Israel amid an outcry among the loved ones of abductees and their supporters.

The war in Gaza, which has already apparently flared up fraught relations between Middle Eastern nations, stems from the violent history of the Israel-Palestine conflict that has dragged both Israeli and Palestinian civilians into chaos.

The live update has ended.

EU to consider future UNRWA funding after 'very serious allegations'

The European Commission "will determine upcoming funding decisions for UNRWA in light of the very serious allegations made on 24 January relating to the involvement of UNRWA staff in the heinous 7 October attacks," the commission said in a statement Monday.

Also, the commission noted that "no additional funding to UNRWA is foreseen until the end of February."

The EU's statement comes as more countries join the U.S. and UK in halting funding for the agency pending investigation of allegations regarding some UNRWA employees having been involved in the atrocities that started the war in Gaza.

Houthis open hijacked ship for sight-seeing

The Houthis have turned the Galaxy Leader, which they seized in November, into a domestic "tourist attraction," allowing male-only groups to get on the carrier for about a dollar per trip.

The Galaxy Leader's 25-man crew, majority of which are Filipinos, remains in Houthi captivity.

Read the full story here.

The Huthi's minister of information, Dhaifallah Al-Shami, inspects the Galaxy Leader Cargo ship two days after it was seized
The Houthi's minister of information, Dhaifallah Al-Shami, inspects the Galaxy Leader Cargo ship two days after it was seized. AFP

Romania freezes UNRWA funding

Another country has joined the growing list of nations temporarily suspending funding to UNRWA pending the investigation results of allegations that some of the agency's staffers had a role to play in Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre in Israel.

Iraq condemns killing of US troops

The Iraqi government on Monday condemned the drone attack in Jordan that killed three U.S. soldiers. It said the attack was a threat to regional stability and urged that the "cycle of violence" be ended, as per a statement by Basim Alawadi, the Iraqi government's spokesperson.

He added that Iraq continues to monitor "with great concern the dangerous security developments in the region."

Britain expresses solidarity with US after troops killed

British foreign secretary David Cameron condemned the "attacks by Iran-aligned militia groups against U.S. forces." He did not directly mention where the attacks happened but he said his country's thoughts were with the families of U.S. servicemen who lost their lives and with the dozens of other soldiers who were injured in the attacks.

The UK is a U.S. ally and the countries have carried out joint strikes against Iranian-backed Houthis amid their continuing attacks targeting shipping activities in the Red Sea.

Explosion heard off Syrian capital: Arab media

An explosion was heard in the vicinity of Sayyida Zeinab, which is located south of Damascus, Syria's capital, Arab media reported Monday, citing Syrian sources.

2 hostages being held in home of UNRWA teacher: Israel

The Israeli government on Monday said "there are reports of two Israeli hostages being imprisoned in the home of an UNRWA teacher."

The allegation comes amid increasing pressure on the relief agency to investigate claims that some of its employees were involved in Hamas' rampage in Israel on Oct. 7.

Israel OKs UN delegation visit to northern Gaza: Report

Israel's war cabinet has approved a visit by a delegation from the United Nations that seeks to determine the needs of residents in northern Gaza, local Ynet reported Monday.

The move reportedly came amid Washington's pressure to allow for the assessment of critical civilian needs in the area.

It is unclear when the visit will take place or who will be responsible for the team's security.

US denies Navy ship attacked: Report

A U.S. defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence-related matters, told Associated Press Monday that there was no reported attack after the Houthis claimed they attacked the U.S. Navy's Lewis B. Puller frigate with a missile in the Red Sea.

Austria suspends UNRWA funding

Austria has joined other countries in halting funding for UNRWA following allegations that some of its employees had a hand in Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre in Israel. The country has called for a "transparent and detailed explanation" of what steps the agency will take next.

Former US president Donald Trump publicly sided with Israel in criticising UNRWA, and also cut off its funding
Israel reportedly submitted a dossier to the U.S. where it said some UNRWA employees supported terrorism and were involved in Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre. AFP / Mohammed ABED

Iran denies involvement in Jordan attack

The Iranian government on Monday denied that Iran was involved in the drone attack in Jordan that killed three U.S. servicemen. Foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kan'ani said "resistance groups in the region do not take orders" from Iran, as per the Iranian government's semi-official Mehr news.

Kan'ani's comments came after Biden indicated that Iran and militias it supports were behind the attack.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani, pictured at a press conference in Tehran on July 13, 2022
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani, pictured at a press conference in Tehran on July 13, 2022.

Protesters calling for hostages' release gather at Kerem Shalom crossing anew

More than a hundred protesters calling for the immediate release of hostages still in Hamas captivity once again gathered at the Kerem Shalom crossing, attempting to block the passage of humanitarian aid trucks entering Gaza, local media reported.

To allow aid entry, Israeli police officers created a human chain to block the demonstrators. This is the sixth straight day that the protesters tried to keep humanitarian aid trucks from entering the enclave.

The protests come amid mounting pressure on the Israeli government to free more than 130 hostages who have been captive in Gaza since Hamas' Oct. 7 invasion of Israel.

Sirens sound in northern Israel

Rocket sirens sounded in northern Israel Monday morning amid continuing launches from Lebanese territory by Iran-backed Hezbollah, local media reported.

Republican senators pressure Biden to take military action against Iran

Republican leaders are piling pressure on the Biden administration to deliver a military response to Iran following the first U.S. servicemen deaths in the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas war started.

South Dakota Sen. John Thune slammed the White House's "half measures and weak posture" that he said ultimately failed to deter Iranian aggression.

"The only answer to these attacks must be devastating military retaliation against Iran's terrorist forces, both in Iran and across the Middle East," said Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia said it's time "to reestablish deterrence against Iran with a decisive response to these unacceptable strikes."

"It is far past time Iran paid the price for its actions," said Montana Sen. Steve Daines.

Other Republican senators had similar statements about the deaths of three U.S. troops.

PA held secret meeting in Riyadh to discuss day-after arrangements: Report

The Palestinian Authority held a meeting in Riyadh last week with representatives of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan to discuss Gaza's governance after the war, local Walla reported, citing three sources.

The meeting reportedly focused on how a "renewed Palestinian Authority" can take part in managing the enclave when the war ends.

Israel previously said it was willing to accept a "reformed" PA as the current leadership needed "fundamental" changes so the next generation of Gaza residents will value tolerance and peace.

2 injured in launches from Lebanon: Local media

Two people were slightly injured due to rocket launches from Lebanese territory toward Biranit, an Israeli military base near the border with Lebanon, Israel's national broadcaster Kan reported Monday.

The IDF has yet to confirm if its military camp in the area was attacked.

Israeli army continues Khan Yunis incursion

Israeli ground and air troops continue to attack Hamas targets in Khan Yunis, where many weapons were discovered "a number of armed terrorists" were eliminated in encounters across Gaza's second-largest city, the IDF said Monday in a series of Google-translated posts on X.

Houthis claim attack on US Navy frigate

The Houthis on Monday morning Sana'a time claimed that it fired a missile at the U.S. Navy's Lewis B. Puller frigate Sunday night as the vessel sailed through the Gulf of Aden.

"The targeting process comes within the military measures taken by the Yemeni armed forces in defense of dear Yemen and in confirmation of the decision to support the oppressed Palestinian people," Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sare'e said in a Google-translated statement.

Iran executes 4 accused of Mossad links

Iran on Monday morning executed four people they said were recruited by Mossad to spy for Israel, Iranian media reported. They were also accused of "planning to carry out a bombing on a facility belonging to the Iranian defense ministry" last year.

Iranian FM in Pakistan after tit-for-tat strikes

Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian is in Pakistan after tit-for-tat strikes that killed several people on both sides. The international community called for restraint following the attacks.

The two countries have since agreed to allow their envoys to return to their posts after they were recalled due to the strikes.

Read the full story here.

Dossier alleges UNRWA employee directly participated in Oct. 7 massacre

An UNRWA employee has been accused of participating in the hostilities at an Israeli kibbutz on Oct. 7 where 97 people were killed by Hamas militants, the New York Times, which reviewed a dossier submitted by Israel to the White House, reported Sunday.

Another UNRWA employee allegedly helped his son kidnap a woman during the rampage, while one, described as a social worker from Nuseirat, was said to have provided ammunition to Hamas militants on Oct. 7, the report revealed. The same social worker is accused of helping the terror group bring the body of a dead IDF soldier into the Gaza Strip.

UNRWA told the outlet that two of the 12 employees alleged to have either aided Hamas or participated in the Palestinian terror group's Oct. 7 atrocities were dead. Israel described 10 of the accused as Hamas members, while another was allegedly affiliated with Hamas ally, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).

Seven of the accused were said to be UNRWA teachers. Two were described as UNRWA school workers who held non-teaching positions.

Abandoned and torched vehicles at the site of the October 7 attack on the Supernova desert music festival by Palestinian militants in the Negev desert in southern Israel
Abandoned and torched vehicles at the site of the October 7 attack on the Supernova desert music festival by Palestinian militants in the Negev desert in southern Israel. AFP

Trump blames Biden for attack on US troops

Former president Donald Trump on Sunday blamed the current president for the drone attack that killed three U.S. servicemen in Jordan. He accused Biden of giving Iran "billions of dollars, which the [Iranian] Regime has used to spread bloodshed and carnage throughout the Middle East."

He said the attack wouldn't have happened if he was still the U.S. leader, adding that the world would have peace, but instead, "we are on the brink of World War 3."

The killing of three U.S. soldiers marks the first deaths among American troops since the war in Gaza started.

Former president Donald Trump was in court while he campaigned ahead of New Hampshire's Republican primary
Former president Donald Trump was in court while he campaigned ahead of New Hampshire's Republican primary. AFP

Israeli warplanes attack Hezbollah buildings

Fighter jets of the Israeli Air Force (IAF) on Sunday struck several Hezbollah assets in southern Lebanon, including paramilitary buildings and observation posts. The strikes were carried out following "a number of launches" from Lebanese territory toward Israel. The rockets fired from Lebanon fell in open areas in Zar'it and Margalit, the IDF said.

Hezbollah leader tells US to 'leave' region

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Sunday threw shade at the deployment of U.S. forces across the Middle East. He questioned if Americans ever wondered why their troops were deployed in foreign countries.

"Why not leave the Middle East and its matters to the people to whom these lands belong," Nasrallah wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

He has been openly critical of the U.S., most especially after the war in Gaza started. He also told the U.S. in November that Hezbollah, which has a much larger weapons arsenal than Hamas, was ready to face the American fleet.

People gather to watch Nasrallah's speech in the Iranian capital's Imam Hussein Square
People gather to watch Nasrallah's speech in the Iranian capital's Imam Hussein Square AFP

'Significant gaps' remain in hostage deal talks: Israel

A "constructive" meeting to discuss a potential ceasefire-hostage deal was held between David Barnea, chief of Israel's intelligence agency Mossad, and Qatari and Egyptian negotiators, the Israeli prime minister's office said late Sunday.

Talks will continue this week as "there are still significant gaps" in negotiations, the office said in a statement.

This is the first time in weeks that Israel has signaled a somehow positive outcome from mediations for a truce agreement that may see the release of about 130 remaining hostages in Hamas captivity.

Israelis have been staging protests calling for a deal to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza
Israelis have been staging protests calling for a deal to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza. AFP

Killing of 3 US servicemen a warning: Hamas official

"The killing of three American soldiers is a message to the U.S. administration" that unless the Israeli army's military campaign in Gaza ends, "it must confront the entire nation," senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters late Sunday.

He added that the Gaza war "is capable of exploding the situation in the region."

His comments come amid increasing attacks by Iranian-backed paramilitary groups on U.S. forces stationed in the Middle East.

Joint maritime forces rescue ship struck by Houthi missile: CENTCOM

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on Sunday said a Houthi missile struck M/V Marlin Luanda with an anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) in the Gulf of Aden Saturday. The attack caused a "major fire" in one of the cargo holds as the vessel was carrying Naphtha, a highly flammable liquid hydrogen mixture that was supposed to be used for commercial purposes.

Washington's USS Carney, France's Navy frigate FS Alsace, and India's Navy frigate INS Visakhapatnam responded to the scene, "providing critical firefighting material and assistance to the civilian crew, who had depleted their organic firefighting capability."

The attacked vessel and crew are now safe after the fire was extinguished. The ship has since returned to its course.

The U.S. army noted that the latest attack had "nothing to do with the conflict in Gaza" as "neither the vessel nor its crew have any affiliation to Israel." The Houthis, an Iranian-backed rebel militia in Yemen, previously claimed they were only attacking ships owned by Israel, bound to Israel, or those linked to Israel.

Biden vows retribution for killing of 3 US troops in Jordan

The U.S. president on Sunday vowed that he will hold accountable those responsible for the killing of three U.S. servicemen in Jordan in a drone attack that targeted a base that hosted foreign forces.

"We will carry on their commitment to fight terrorism. And have no doubt – we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing," he said. He also revealed that even as an investigation on the attack ensues, "we know it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq."

Read the full story here.

Top military commander assassinated by Israel: Fatah

The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade, the military wing of Fatah, another party in the Palestinian political scene that's just as popular Hamas, said late Sunday that Israel eliminated Mohammed Dib Salem, its field commander in Gaza, Haaretz reported.

The IDF has yet to confirm the claim.

3 countries join US, others in suspending UNRWA funding

The Netherlands on Sunday announced that it has "halted any future funding of UNRWA" following the announcement of an investigation "that some of its [UNRWA] staff members were involved in the 7 October terrorist attacks on Israel."

Germany followed suit a few hours later, saying that it was temporarily suspending funding for UNRWA as investigations continue over allegations that some staffers of the agency either voiced support for Hamas Oct. 7 massacre or participated in the hostilities.

The two countries joined Canada, which announced its decision Saturday to "pause all additional funding to UNRWA pending the outcome of the investigation."

Washington and Britain were first to announce the suspension of UNRWA funding following the agency's announcement of a probe into the allegations. The United Nations, which said it was "shocked" by the allegations, has since fired 12 accused of involvement in terrorism.

Other nations that quickly followed Washington's move were Australia, Italy, Finland and Switzerland. The U.S. is UNRWA's top funding supporter, followed by Germany.