Israel military to close last remaining route from southern Gaza to the north
The Israeli military said it will close on Wednesday the last remaining route for residents of southern Gaza to access the north, as it presses its offensive on Gaza City.
The military’s Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee said on X:
Al-Rashid Street will be closed to traffic from the southern sector area at 12:00 (0900 GMT).
Movement southward will be allowed for those who were unable to evacuate Gaza City. At this stage, the [Israeli military] permits free movement southward without inspection.
In figures reported less than two weeks ago, the UN said that more than a quarter of a million people had been displaced from Gaza City in the previous month. Tens of thousands more have been forced to flee makeshift homes and shelters daily in the face of a new Israeli offensive, it added.
Meanwhile, Hamas has said it will review the outline of Donald Trump’s Gaza plan presented in Washington on Tuesday, as leaders across the Middle East and elsewhere voiced support for the proposal, which comes after almost two years of relentless violence.
In Israel, media and politicians broadly welcomed Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement, made at a joint press conference with Trump, that he supported the 20-point plan, which meets many of Israel’s principal demands.
Trump has said Hamas has “three or four days” to respond to the plan or face the consequences. Speaking to reporters as he left the White House on Tuesday, Trump said Israeli and Arab leaders had accepted the proposal and “we’re just waiting for Hamas”.
More on this in a moment, but first, here are some other developments:
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Australia has been accused of emboldening Israeli atrocities in Gaza by allowing Israel to effectively act with impunity, with only tepid critiques from the federal government. “Israel’s extreme war of vengeance has proved a grave threat to the very survival of Palestinians, as well as endangering Israeli hostages and the future of Israel’s own security,” international law expert Ben Saul told the National Press Club on Wednesday.
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As Gaza’s humanitarian crisis grows, some women say they are being exploited by local men promising food, money, or other aid in exchange for sexual interactions. Six women detailed their experiences to the Associated Press, each speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution from their families or the men.
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The Palestinian health ministry in Gaza said on Telegram that the death toll from Israel’s military campaign had risen to 66,097 deaths and 168,536 injuries since 7 October 2023. It said on Wednesday that 42 deaths and 190 injuries were recorded in the past 24 hours, though victims remain under rubble and in streets that emergency crews have been unable to reach.
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Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for the attack that left a Dutch-flagged cargo ship ablaze and adrift in the Gulf of Aden. This attack was their most serious assault in the Gulf of Aden since November 2023. The Houthis fired a cruise missile at the Minervagracht, injuring two mariners.
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The international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza said on Wednesday that several of its boats were approached by unidentified vessels, some navigating without lights. The Global Sumud Flotilla said in post on Telegram that the vessels have departed, and participants implemented security protocols in anticipation of a possible interception.
Key events
Yemen’s Houthi rebels early on Wednesday claimed the attack that left a Dutch-flagged cargo ship ablaze and adrift in the Gulf of Aden, underlining the range of their weaponry and their campaign targeting shipping over the Israel-Hamas war, reports the Associated Press (AP).
The attack on Monday on the Minervagracht was the most serious assault in months by the Houthis in the Gulf of Aden, which is some distance from the Red Sea where they have sunk four vessels since November 2023.
The attack also comes as Israel engages in a new ground offensive targeting Gaza City as efforts to reach a ceasefire again hang in the balance. Meanwhile, the Middle East also remains on edge after the United Nations reimposed sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme. The Iranian-backed Houthis separately threatened to “employ all means and instruments available” to target several US oil firms, reports the AP.
The Houthis fired a cruise missile that targeted and struck the Minervagracht, Houthi military spokesperson Brig Gen Yahya Saree said.
Saree accused the ship’s owners, Amsterdam-based Spliethoff, of violating “the entry ban to the ports of occupied Palestine”. Initially, the US Navy-overseen Joint Maritime Information Centre said the Minervagracht had no ties to Israel, but a note on Tuesday said the centre was “reviewing vessel affiliations for possible links to Israel.”
The attack injured two mariners on board the Minervagracht, whose 19-member crew hailed from the Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka and Ukraine. They were forced to evacuate the ship after the strike inflicted substantial damage.
Spliethoff said on Wednesday it was working with “international authorities and salvage experts to safeguard and secure the vessel.” A European naval force operating in the region, known as Operation Aspides, said on Tuesday the Minervagracht was on fire and adrift after the crew’s rescue.
Spliethoff said in a statement:
We would again like to express our deepest concern over this week’s incident which was a direct attack on our innocent seafarers and a breach of the right of free navigation.
Australian government ‘deeply concerned’ about safety of its citizens on board Gaza flotilla
Krishani Dhanji
The Australian government has said it is “deeply concerned” about the safety of its citizens on board a flotilla to Gaza, with expectations the boats could be intercepted by Israeli forces as early as Wednesday afternoon Australian time.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has said they have been in contact with six Australians confirmed to be on flotilla consisting of more than 40 ships.
Government officials have made representations to the Israeli government, over concerns Australians will be detained or arrested by the Israel Defense Forces.
Australia’s assistant minister for foreign affairs, Matt Thistlethwaite said:
I’m deeply concerned by the alleged drone attacks on the Global Sumud Flotilla and the risks to the safety of Australians and other passengers onboard.
Australia calls on all parties to respect international law and international humanitarian law, and to refrain from any unlawful or violent act against the flotilla.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, with more than 500 people including politicians, lawyers and Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, is aiming to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza and deliver aid.
Late morning on Wednesday AEST, Guardian Australia spoke to Juliet Lamont, an Australian documentary film-maker, on a boat in the flotilla.
She told Guardian Australia the spirits of those on board are positive:
I think people feel pretty calm. And because everybody is really, really concerned about what’s happening in Palestine every single day, it really kind of pales in significance.
I’m a film-maker, there’s teachers here, there’s a bus driver, like we’re just ordinary people that have been forced by our governments in action to do this. We’re not radicals … we’ve got baby food and medicine. So it’s just a real blight on our world leaders that we’ve been forced to do this.
Surya McEwen, another Australian on board, said many in the flotilla have done extensive non-violence training and are prepared if their ships are intercepted. He said:
We’re trying to be as calm and as organised and as careful as we possibly can to make it the least dangerous scenario as it could possibly be.
We’re very experienced in de-escalation and communicating in ways that are non-threatening… but we’re resolved to keep going to Gaza, if there’s any way to do so without being attacked.
The Australian government has also made representations to nations including Spain, Italy and Greece for their support for Australians on board.
Israel military to close last remaining route from southern Gaza to the north
The Israeli military said it will close on Wednesday the last remaining route for residents of southern Gaza to access the north, as it presses its offensive on Gaza City.
The military’s Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee said on X:
Al-Rashid Street will be closed to traffic from the southern sector area at 12:00 (0900 GMT).
Movement southward will be allowed for those who were unable to evacuate Gaza City. At this stage, the [Israeli military] permits free movement southward without inspection.
In figures reported less than two weeks ago, the UN said that more than a quarter of a million people had been displaced from Gaza City in the previous month. Tens of thousands more have been forced to flee makeshift homes and shelters daily in the face of a new Israeli offensive, it added.
Meanwhile, Hamas has said it will review the outline of Donald Trump’s Gaza plan presented in Washington on Tuesday, as leaders across the Middle East and elsewhere voiced support for the proposal, which comes after almost two years of relentless violence.
In Israel, media and politicians broadly welcomed Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement, made at a joint press conference with Trump, that he supported the 20-point plan, which meets many of Israel’s principal demands.
Trump has said Hamas has “three or four days” to respond to the plan or face the consequences. Speaking to reporters as he left the White House on Tuesday, Trump said Israeli and Arab leaders had accepted the proposal and “we’re just waiting for Hamas”.
More on this in a moment, but first, here are some other developments:
-
Australia has been accused of emboldening Israeli atrocities in Gaza by allowing Israel to effectively act with impunity, with only tepid critiques from the federal government. “Israel’s extreme war of vengeance has proved a grave threat to the very survival of Palestinians, as well as endangering Israeli hostages and the future of Israel’s own security,” international law expert Ben Saul told the National Press Club on Wednesday.
-
As Gaza’s humanitarian crisis grows, some women say they are being exploited by local men promising food, money, or other aid in exchange for sexual interactions. Six women detailed their experiences to the Associated Press, each speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution from their families or the men.
-
The Palestinian health ministry in Gaza said on Telegram that the death toll from Israel’s military campaign had risen to 66,097 deaths and 168,536 injuries since 7 October 2023. It said on Wednesday that 42 deaths and 190 injuries were recorded in the past 24 hours, though victims remain under rubble and in streets that emergency crews have been unable to reach.
-
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for the attack that left a Dutch-flagged cargo ship ablaze and adrift in the Gulf of Aden. This attack was their most serious assault in the Gulf of Aden since November 2023. The Houthis fired a cruise missile at the Minervagracht, injuring two mariners.
-
The international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza said on Wednesday that several of its boats were approached by unidentified vessels, some navigating without lights. The Global Sumud Flotilla said in post on Telegram that the vessels have departed, and participants implemented security protocols in anticipation of a possible interception.
