More than 100 days after the start of conflitto between Israel-Hamas, Israeli bombings continue on the Gaza Strip where the death toll exceeds the threshold of 24 thousand deaths. Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterates that the war will end only with the destruction of Hamas: "No one will stop us, not even the Hague or the axis of evil." The speed with which the brutal attack on 7 October at the hands of Hamas erased fifty-year agreements and peace made us "forget" the tragedy on Europe's doorstep. Where, however, Russian attacks do not stop and rumors of a further Russian offensive fuel anxiety about theUkraine, already tested by almost two years of conflict. But for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine has sufficient potential to overcome this difficult path of war. “We have the potential to win. We are accelerating artillery production,” the Ukrainian leader said. Meanwhile, a Davos, the Ukrainian president leads the fourth international meeting on his 10-point peace proposal, with growing participation from Europe, Asia and Africa.
Middle East war: latest news
The war between Israel and Hamas, which began on October 7, 2023, has reached its hundredth day (January 14) with tens of thousands dead, millions displaced and the Gaza Strip almost destroyed. The latest news still highlights the horror of the war which shows no signs of abating, indeed there are signs of an extension of the conflict in the West Bank, Lebanon but above all in the Red Sea. Hasan Nasrallah, leader of the Lebanese Hezbollah, declared in a live TV speech that he did not fear a war with Israel, while the Iranian president, Ebrahim Raisi, declared that the "Zionist regime and its supporters have been defeated".
Hamas publishes video with 3 Israeli hostages
Hamas released a video with three Israeli hostages: Yossi Sharabi, Itay Svirsky and Noa Argamani, the 26-year-old taken away from a party in Re'im filmed in the videos while she was being transported on a motorbike towards the Strip. Svirski, 38, from Tel Aviv, was kidnapped while visiting his family in Kibbutz Be'eri. His parents, Orit and Rafi Svirski, were murdered. Yossi Sharabi, 53, from Be'eri, was instead kidnapped from his home. Meanwhile, the families of the hostages are pressuring Netanyahu to free their loved ones. Not only. According to Barak Ravid, a usually well-informed journalist who follows relations between the White House and Israel, Washington's frustration with the Israeli prime minister and his deaf ears to requests on Gaza is also growing.
Houthis launch missile towards US warship, which was shot down
The war between Hamas and Israel goes beyond the Israeli and Palestinian borders and reaches out to the Red Sea, a strategic hub for world trade, with attacks on merchant ships in transit by the Houthis, a Shiite militia movement from Yemen, supported by Iran. According to a statement from the US Central Command (Centcom), the Houthis launched an anti-ship cruise missile towards the destroyer USS Laboon in the southern Red Sea. The projectile was later shot down near the coast of al-Hudayda by American fighter planes, without any injuries or damage.
Qatar suspends gas shipments through the Red Sea
Meanwhile, Qatar has suspended shipments of oil tankers carrying liquefied natural gas through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, in response to US-led airstrikes against Houthi targets. This decision caused the suspension of at least five Qatari-operated liquefied natural gas vessels, posing supply risks for various countries, including Italy, during Europe's harsh winter weather.
War in Ukraine: latest news
In the last 24 hours, the Russian attacks in Ukraine they left a painful mark, with seven people injured and considerable damage in Kherson, Kharkiv and Donetsk. The situation is further complicated in the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions, where Russian attacks have hit several towns and villages, damaging vital infrastructure. Electricity was cut for more than 5.000 people, while pharmacies, shops and homes were damaged.
But the concern grows even more with the voices of the ISW indicating the possible planning of one new Russian offensive in the next weeks. Ukraine, already tested by months of conflict, is preparing to face further challenges in an attempt to defend its sovereignty.
Ukraine, UN: 4,2 billion needed for humanitarian aid
The UN has launched an appeal for funds 4,2 billion dollars to provide humanitarian aid to communities affected by war in Ukraine in 2024, revealing the severity of the humanitarian situation in the region. There are around 14,6 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in Ukraine, or “a staggering 40% of the population”, and around 6,3 million people have fled the country, the United Nations said.
Zelensky in Davos, the Russian controversy
The Ukrainian leader led the fourth meeting of international delegations in Davos, in Switzerland, to discuss his p10-point peace proposal, on the eve of the World Economic Forum where Zelensky himself will participate. “A conversation as an end in itself” that will not lead to any results, because Russia will not be present. Thus the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, defined the meeting scheduled for tomorrow in Davos between more than 80 countries to discuss the Kiev peace formula. Peace initiatives in the absence of Russia "have no prospect of achieving a result", underlined Peskov, quoted by the Interfax agency.
The Russian spokesperson also stated that Russia would prefer a "diplomatic solution" in Ukraine, but said the military operation continues due to the West and Ukraine's lack of consideration of Russian concerns.
North Korea: Foreign Minister in Moscow, will see Lavrov and perhaps Putin
The Foreign Minister of North Korea, Choe Son Hui, is in Moscow for meetings with his counterpart Serghei Lavrov. A possible meeting with the Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Peskov. The visit takes place in a tense international context, with concerns over the supply of North Korean weapons to Moscow for Ukraine.
