• It is the 115th day of the war: over 26,600 people have been killed in Gaza. In Israel, 1,200 people died in the attack on October 7th.
• Three American soldiers killed in a drone strike between the Syria-Jordan border.
• WSJ: “10% of UNRWA staff in Gaza have ties to Hamas.”
• Attack against pro-Iranian forces south of Damascus.
• Gaza, progress in negotiations: “Two months of ceasefire in exchange for the hostages”.
7:11 a.m. – What are Iran’s goals and steps? And how much would a ceasefire in Gaza cost?
(by Guido Olimpio) The killing of three American soldiers by a pro-Iranian militia drone combines old and new methods in a story with different protagonists.
1 What can Joe Biden do?
The White House has said there will be a response at the right time, the same formula used by Tehran after it has suffered blows from its enemies. It is an attempt to explore a retaliatory strike (in a few hours or perhaps days) that will have an impact on the spiral, but at the same time will not reinforce it. Easy to hope for, complicated to implement. The opponents are numerous, widespread and organized. They feel comfortable in this exchange of reduced strikes, the strikes have a relative impact on their structure. In fact, they also fired on US outposts yesterday.
2 Has deterrence through punishment lost its value?
It depends on the dial. Hezbollah, the most solid and prepared movement, is wary of the US and Israel because it has a lot to lose, with catastrophic consequences that would affect all of Lebanon. He prefers skirmishes, in line with the Iranian protector, who has other strings in play, starting with the Yemeni Houthis. Washington has few options in Syria and Iraq; it must act against non-state formations within countries with governments and therefore with borders.
5:54 a.m. – The three US soldiers who died in the attack on the base in Jordan have been identified
The US Department of Defense has identified the three soldiers killed in the drone attack by pro-Iranian militias on a US military outpost in northern Jordan, near the border between that country and Syria. They are Sergeant William Rivers (46) and specialists Kennedy Sanders (24) and Breonna Moffett (23). The three soldiers were originally from the state of Georgia.
3:45 a.m. – USA: “We will not tolerate any further attacks on our armed forces”
The United States believes Iran is behind the killer drone that caused the deaths of three American soldiers and the injury of 34 others in the attack between Syria and Jordan, but there is no definitive evidence yet. And in any case, new attacks will not be tolerated. This is what a Pentagon spokeswoman claims. “We – explained Sabrina Singh – know that the Iranian-backed militias are responsible for the ongoing attacks on US forces in the region, and so have the President (Joe Biden, editor's note) and the Secretary of State ( Lloyd Austin, editor's note) explains. “They don't do that. We will tolerate attacks on American forces and take all necessary actions to defend the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces.”
3:33 a.m. – CNN: Dozens of civilians killed in new Israeli attack
Dozens of civilians have been killed or injured in Israeli bombings in Gaza City. This was reported by Palestinian news agency Wafa and relaunched by CNN. Witnesses said “at least 25 civilians died” and others were injured in the attack on a family home in the al-Tuffah neighborhood east of Gaza. According to journalist Khader Zaanoun, numerous people were admitted to Al-Shifa Hospital. The reporter told CNN that Israeli forces “entered” the Al-Rimal neighborhood “from multiple directions” and surrounded it. “The ambulances,” he added, “are experiencing the greatest difficulty in movement due to the artillery shells and the siege by the Israeli forces.”
3:20 a.m. – The Palestinian children who are to be treated in Italy have arrived in Ciampino
(by Clarida Salvatori) There are eleven. And they are being treated in three different Italian hospitals: four at the Bambino Gesù in Rome, one, the only adult – an amputee – at the San Camillo, three at the Gaslini in Genoa and three at the Meyer in Florence. An air force flight coordinated by the Joint Forces Summit Command took them to Rome and then with their companions to Pisa to Ciampino Airport: These are the Palestinian children injured in the conflict with Israel.
3:18 a.m. – 14 countries, including Italy, have already suspended funding for UNRWA
At least 15 donor countries, including Italy, have suspended funding to the United Nations Palestine Refugee Agency (UNRWA) after Israel claimed that some staff were involved in the October 7 Hamas attacks. The European Commission announced yesterday that a “review” of the dossier would be carried out “in the light of the UN investigation”. UNRWA has already fired several people and promised a thorough investigation into the allegations, while Israel has vowed to stop the organization's work in Gaza after the war. Meanwhile, the agency's chief, Philippe Lazzarini, said he would hold any employee involved in “terrorist acts” “accountable, including through criminal proceedings.” For his part, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on States to “ensure the continuity” of the organization and confirmed that 12 UNRWA employees in Gaza were affected by these “extremely serious allegations,” which are the subject of internal UN reports Investigations are investigations. In addition to Italy, countries that have so far suspended their funding for the agency include the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Austria, Romania, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland .
3:16 a.m. – Amit, who fought against the kidnappers, returns to his kibbutz in Kfar Aza: “It's madness down there”
(by Davide Frattini, Jerusalem correspondent) Three hours, 60 minutes, 55 days. Amit hid behind the plywood panels of the wardrobe. She fought for an hour against the men in camouflage who opened the doors and dragged her out, so it took at least five of them to drag her to the other side of the barrier, a kilometer of kicking, punching and punching. She remained in the terrorists' dungeons for almost two months. There are different words and numbers that indicate the passing of the same time. This 40-year-old woman chooses those who allow her trembling voice and nightmares that won't go away: “Constant fear, daily abuse.” Down there, in a 30-meter-deep tunnel, I felt buried alive.
Amit Soussana returned home in late November during the week-long lull in fighting that allowed for the prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas fundamentalists. Not in her house on Kibbutz Kfar Aza, which now stands behind her, half burned and completely destroyed.
– Amit Soussana in front of the house where she was kidnapped on October 7 (Getty)
3:13 a.m. – Qatar: Draft ceasefire agreement. But Netanyahu is still slowing down
(by Davide Frattini, Jerusalem correspondent) It is Qatar that is dashing the Palestinian national team's dream of reaching the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup, and now it is the prime minister of the small Gulf kingdom who is keeping alive the hope of reaching the quarterfinals The new ceasefire in the war reached day 115. “We made remarkable progress this weekend,” explains Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani. “Hamas is calling for a permanent ceasefire and the current proposal could lead to a permanent end to the fighting.” He explains that he will meet the fundamentalist leaders at a summit with the American William Burns, the head of the CIA, David Barnea, the director of the Israeli Mossad, and Abbas Kamel wants to present the details of the possible agreement agreed in Paris. the Egyptian super spy.
2.47am – British Minister Cameron is in Oman to discuss peace in Gaza
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron today begins a new regional tour of the Middle East in Oman, which will focus on the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and the conflict in Gaza. Cameron will seek to encourage the formation of a contact group between the UK, US, EU, Turkey and Persian Gulf and Arab countries to bring about a pause in the fighting in Gaza, which will support the search for a permanent one solution possible. The head of British diplomacy “will reiterate the UK's appeal to regional leaders for an immediate pause in Gaza to allow for the delivery of further aid and the release of hostages, and then move to a permanent ceasefire.”
2:44 a.m. – U.S. arms exports increased 50% in 2023
American arms exports rose 50% to $81 billion in 2023 after demand surged following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The media reports about it. The Biden administration is working to curb Russian arms sales abroad to isolate Moscow and weaken its forces against Ukraine. Russia was for decades the world's second-largest arms exporter after the United States, but its role is now being challenged by the war in Ukraine, which is depleting its industrial production capacity.
01:52 a.m. – UN spokesman: The 13,000 UNRWA employees continue to work
“The 13,000 UNRWA employees in Gaza continue to work during the war, helping over a million people in overcrowded UNRWA shelters,” said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations in the case of Israeli allegations against UNRWA, as reported by Washington Post reported.