By Lyndal Rowlands

      Fierce ground fighting is ongoing in the centre of Khan Younis, reports Al Jazeera’s Wael Dahdouh, as Palestinians start 2024 sheltering from Israeli shelling.

      Israel says it will withdraw reservists from its Gaza ground invasion so troops can “gain strength” for future battles.

      The US army has attacked three Houthi boats in the Red Sea, killing at least 10 fighters.

      At least 21,822 people have been killed and 56,451 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The revised death toll from the October 7 attack in Israel stands at 1,139.

  First deaths in Red Sea standoff risks escalation

by Resul Serdar

    Tensions are rising, particularly after the US killed 10 members of the Houthis in the Red Sea. This was the first time since the beginning of escalation in the Red Sea that we have seen killings.

    A Houthi statement says the US “bears full responsibility” and there will be consequences. UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps says the UK is ready to take direct action against the Houthis in the region, and continued Red Sea aggression is risking miscalculation that could trigger a region-wide conflict.

    The deputy foreign minister of Houthis says Yemeni blood has been shed, but it’s not wasted, and its price is quite high. So now we see more and more militarisation taking place. There are now concerns about what the way out will look like for this crisis since there are almost no diplomatic talks happening.

    ‘Mr Security’ faces internal and external pressure over war

    Mahjoob Zweiri, professor of Middle East politics at Qatar University, says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces an increasingly precarious situation domestically and internationally over the war.

    “Let’s not forget Netanyahu has been called Mr Security. He ran the country for 16 years. Despite all of this, in a matter of 87 days, Israel has become vulnerable economically, politically, and socially,” Zweiri told Al Jazeera.

    “After the first month, it became clear to me that Israel will try to extend the war as long as it can. Netanyahu will go on with this war until he cannot go on further. He’s worried about the ‘day after’ internally. He’s worried he’s not achieving his goals politically and the goal of Israel militarily – he’s not weakening Hamas as promised.

    “Most importantly, Israel has become isolated and its image destroyed because of the killing of all those civilians in Gaza.”