Live Blog Update| Israel's genocide in Gaza
This is an entry from: Israel-Palestine live: Israel’s response to South Africa’s genocide case at the ICJ ends

Morning Update: US, UK strike Yemen over Israeli blockade as dozens killed in Gaza

12 January 2024 06:28 GMT

Good morning readers of Middle East Eye,

We are on the 98th day of the war on Gaza and the Palestinian death toll in Gaza is officially 23,469 with 59,410 wounded and more than 7,000 missing who are believed to be dead and buried under rubble.

It’s been an eventful 24 hours and things only look set to get worse in the Middle East. 
Last night the UK and the US began launching strikes against the Houthis in Yemen who have imposed a naval blockade in the Red Sea for ships heading towards Israel.

The Houthis have said they will stop blocking ships once Israel stops its war on Gaza and allows humanitarian aid through.

Today we are also expecting Israel to appear before the International Court of Justice to defend itself against the charge of genocide.

Middle East Eye will be covering the latest developments as they happen.

Here are the major developments from the last few hours: 

  • Nine Palestinians have been killed in Rafah after the residential building they were taking refuge in was completely levelled by an Israeli strike
  • Israeli air strike kills five in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza 
  • The Israeli military denies it was behind the bombing of an ambulance in the central Gaza Strip that killed four medics and two other people
  • Oxfam report says Israel’s war is the deadliest conflict in the 21st century, with 250 Palestinians killed per day in Gaza
  • Saudi Arabia called for “restraint” and “avoiding escalation” as analysts express concern at the “dangerous direction” the US is heading in the Middle East
  • Russia says attack on Yemen violates UN Charter, calls for Security Council emergency session