Our live coverage of Israel's war against Hamas has moved here.
January 9, 2024 Israel-Hamas war
By Tara Subramaniam, Sana Noor Haq, Rob Picheta, Aditi Sangal and Elise Hammond, CNN
Updated 12:08 a.m. ET, January 10, 2024
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US Navy shoots down Houthi missiles and drones launched from Yemen over Red Sea, officials say
From CNN's Oren Liebermann
The US Navy shot down 21 Houthi missiles and drones launched from Yemen, according to a statement from US Central Command, in one of the largest Houthi attacks to take place in the Red Sea in recent months.
The military called it a “complex attack” carried out by the Iran-backed militants.
The barrage, launched at about 9:15 p.m. Tuesday in Yemen, included 18 one-way attack drones, two anti-ship cruise missiles and one anti-ship ballistic missile, Central Command said.
The attack was launched toward international shipping lanes in the southern Red Sea where “dozens” of merchant vessels were traveling, according to the statement.
Two defense officials had earlier told CNN that the barrage included a total of 24 drones and missiles.
There were no ships damaged in the attacks and no injuries as a result of the massive drone and missile launch, CENTCOM said.
This post have been updated with additional reporting.
Blinken is in Tel Aviv as Israel faces genocide case in an international court this week. Here's what to know
From CNN staff
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top Israeli officials in Tel Aviv on Tuesday. The top US diplomat said he had arrived in Israel at "an incredibly challenging time” after making stops in countries around the Middle East.
Against the backdrop of heavy fighting and civilian casualties in central and southern Gaza, Israel is facing a genocide case before the International Court of Justice this week.
During his meetings, Blinken reiterated the importance of avoiding further civilian harm and "protecting civilian infrastructure in Gaza" at a time when global health organizations are warning about the enclave's collapsing health care sector. Also, in some of his most direct comments on the matter, Blinken said Netanyahu must rein in the far-right tendencies of his government to achieve any progress in the future.
Here's what to know:
- Situation on the ground in Gaza: Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza reported receiving dozens of casualties from several parts of central Gaza due to heavy overnight air strikes. Some of the heaviest combat is in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, where there is fighting on the ground as well as regular airstrikes. The World Health Organization stressed that it "cannot afford" to lose the remaining operational hospitals in southern Gaza. The Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health in Gaza said Tuesday that in the previous 24 hours, a total of 126 people had been killed and 241 injured.
- The latest on hostages: Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz told Blinken that his nation’s military needs to “finish the war” with Hamas to secure the return of Israeli hostages and achieve the “security of our people.” However, Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, reiterated the group's stance that Hamas will only release Israeli hostages after all Palestinian prisoners are freed from Israel's prisons.
- Role of other countries in the Middle East: King Abdullah II of Jordan will hold a three-way summit on Wednesday with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss efforts to coordinate a ceasefire in Gaza. Blinken — who met with Netanyahu after meetings with leaders in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Jordan — said the Israeli government must move toward a two-state solution if it wants the help of Arab partners in the region with lasting security
- Fighting with Hezbollah: Israel's military said it killed a regional commander of Hezbollah’s air force, Ali Hussein Burji, on Tuesday. Hezbollah also announced the death but denied Burji was in charge of its air force or drone program. During meetings with top officials, Blinken said the US and the Israeli government believe "that a diplomatic path is the best way to achieve" security on the northern border of Israel. Tensions have ramped up after Israel killed Hezbollah senior commander Wissam Tawil in southern Lebanon on Monday. Last week, the deputy head of the political bureau of Hamas Saleh Al-Arouri was killed in southern Beirut in a strike that Israel has not claimed.
- Genocide allegations: Israel is set to appear before the International Court of Justice on Thursday. South Africa applied last month to begin proceedings over allegations of genocide against Israel. Israeli officials have continually defended their military actions in the enclave and said they are trying to avert civilian casualties. Netanyahu called it a “false accusation.” Blinken called the allegations "meritless" and said it distracted from efforts to address the humanitarian crisis and prevent the war from spreading. Meantime, Slovenia’s Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon told CNN she believes Israel breached international humanitarian law in Gaza, adding, "That is clear."
Israel says it killed regional commander of Hezbollah’s air forces in drone strike
From CNN’s Amir Tal, Amy Cassidy, Charbel Mallo and Tamara Qiblawi
Israel's military said it has killed a regional commander of Hezbollah’s air force who it claimed was responsible for an attack on an Israeli command center earlier Tuesday.
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces said Ali Hussein Burji commanded the Southern Lebanon Region of Hezbollah's Aerial Unit and “led dozens of terror activities against Israel using explosive UAVs and surveillance UAVs against Israel and IDF soldiers."
“Before his elimination, a launch cell belonging to Hezbollah's Aerial Unit which was on its way to launch explosive UAVs toward different locations in Israel was eliminated,” the statement said.
IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in his regular press conference on Tuesday, “we eliminated him [Burji] in a drone.”
Hezbollah also announced Burji’s death on its social media channels but denied he was in charge of its drone program or air force.
"Hezbollah’s press office vehemently denies these false and completely baseless claims and confirms that the mujahid brother who is responsible for Hezbollah’s drones has not been subjected to an assassination attempt," Hezbollah said in a statement late on Tuesday.
This post has been updated with additional comments from Hezbollah.
Blinken says Israel must move toward two-state solution if it wants Arab help on lasting security
From CNN's Jennifer Hansler
The Israeli government must move toward a two-state solution if it wants the help of Arab partners in the region with lasting security, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a news conference in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.
In some of his most direct comments on the matter, Blinken noted that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must rein in the far-right tendencies of his government to achieve any progress in the future.
"Israel must stop taking steps that undercut Palestinians ability to govern themselves effectively. Extremists settler violence carried out with impunity, settlement expansion, demolitions, evictions all make it harder – not easier – for Israel to achieve lasting peace and security," he said.
"Israel must be a partner to Palestinian leaders who are willing to lead their people are living side by side in peace with Israel as neighbors," Blinken added.
The top US diplomat met with Netanyahu following meetings with leaders in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Jordan.
"As I told the prime minister, every partner that I met on this trip said that they're ready to support a lasting solution that ends the long-running cycle of violence and ensures Israel's security. But they underscored that this can only come through a regional approach that includes a pathway to a Palestinian state," Blinken said.
"If Israel wants its Arab neighbors to make the tough decisions necessary to help ensures lasting security, Israeli leaders will have to make hard decisions themselves," he said.
Blinken says the charge of genocide against Israel is meritless
From CNN's Michael Conte and Jennifer Hansler
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Israel’s referral to the International Court of Justice for alleged genocide during its war in Gaza “meritless” and said it distracts from efforts to address the humanitarian crisis and prevent the war from spreading.
“The charge of genocide is meritless,” said Blinken at a press conference in Tel Aviv on Tuesday. “It's particularly galling given that those who are attacking Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, as well as their supporter of Iran, continue to openly call for the annihilation of Israel and the mass murder of Jews.”
Blinken also said that Israel has now agreed to let the United Nations conduct an “assessment mission” to begin the process of allowing displaced Palestinians to move back home.
“As I told the prime minister, the United States unequivocally rejects any proposals advocating for the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza, and the prime minister reaffirmed to me today that this is not the policy of Israel's government,” said Blinken.
Blinken had meetings with Israeli officials on Tuesday, after meeting with several other leaders in the Middle East on Monday.
South Africa brought the case against Israel to the Hague-based ICJ and the first hearing is slated for Thursday.
Red Cross responds after hostage's family says officials told them to think of the suffering of Palestinians
From CNN's Tim Lister and journalist Lauren Iszo
The International Committee of the Red Cross has responded following allegations that its officials told the families of Israeli hostages that they should think of the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza.
On Monday, Dor Steinbrecher, whose 30-year-old sister Doron was kidnapped by Hamas and is still being held Gaza Strip, told CNN’s Jake Tapper that the family had been told by Red Cross officials that “we should care more about the Arab people on the other side,” and “less about our beloved one.”
Steinbrecher said his sister needed daily medication.
Tapper asked: “Your parents told this to the Red Cross in the hope that they would be able to get the medication to her wherever she is, and their response was you should be worried more about the people of Gaza? That's what the Red Cross said to your parents?”
“Yes,” Steinbrecher said, describing it as a “shocking” response.
The ICRC did not address the allegation directly in its response to CNN Tuesday. But it said in a statement:
“In our direct discussions with families, we listen to their concerns and the difficulties they are going through. We explain our role as a neutral intermediary and the challenges of working in Gaza, now an active conflict zone.”
The ICRC also said it explained to families that its goal was to alleviate the suffering of victims of conflict on all sides. “That, of course, includes the hostages.”
The ICRC added that it had no direct access to the hostages
“We need a solid agreement, from both parties, in order to have the necessary conditions to either facilitate a release, or access those held hostage. This includes needing to know their location, which we currently do not. We do not take part in this negotiation, but are ready to support whenever an agreement may be reached," the statement read. “We do not have weapons, nor do we have political affiliations. What we have is trust from the parties involved that our organization is, and will remain, neutral in times of conflict.”
Watch Dor Steinbrecher's interview with Tapper:
World Health Organization warns it "cannot afford" to lose hospitals in southern Gaza
From CNN's Niamh Kennedy in London
The World Health Organization has stressed that it "cannot afford" to lose the remaining operational hospitals in southern Gaza, warning the enclave's health care sector is collapsing at a "rapid pace."
As Israeli calls for evacuations continue to push people to the south of the Gaza strip, the WHO said it has strained the region's already stretched facilities. The region's hospitals are now "bursting with patients" and internally displaced people (IDPs), WHO Emergency Medical Team Coordinator Sean Casey told a press briefing Tuesday.
Only 13 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza are partially functioning, and bed occupancy is at 351%, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah.
Casey, who has carried out a number of WHO missions to hospitals in Gaza, described the "intensification of hostilities" around the European Hospital in the southern city of Khan Yunis as "really worrying."
"We cannot lose the health facilities. They absolutely must be protected. This is the last line of secondary tertiary health care that Gaza has from the north to the south," Casey stressed.
"We cannot afford to lose any hospital," Richard Peeperkorn, a WHO representative in the occupied Palestinian Territory, said at the briefing.
Palestinian Authority accuses Israeli military of running over body of militant in West Bank
From CNN's Kareem Khadder and Tim Lister
The Palestinian Authority has condemned an incident in Tulkarm in the occupied West Bank on Monday night in which an Israeli military vehicle ran over the body of a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad soon after a firefight.
Surveillance video of the incident, geolocated by CNN, shows three militants, one of them armed with an assault rifle, running before they are shot repeatedly. A separate video shows a wheeled Israeli military vehicle running over the body of one of the men, dragging it for several meters.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that incident showed the “documented brutality committed by an Israeli military vehicle by running over the body of a martyr in Tulkarm.”
The Al Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, claimed that the three men killed – who were between the ages of 22 and 24 – were its members.
CNN has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces for comment on the incident.