Over 20 countries agree to join US led Red Sea coalition

A total of more than 20 countries have agreed to participate in the new US-led coalition safeguarding commercial traffic in the Red Sea, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

At least eight of the countries who have signed up have also declined to be publicly named, in a sign of political sensitivities of the operation as regional tensions soar over the Israel-Hamas war.

"We've had over 20 nations now sign on to participate," Major General Patrick Ryder said, noting declarations by Greece and Australia.

"We'll allow other countries, defer to them to talk about their participation."

The United States launched Operation Prosperity Guardian two days ago, saying more than a dozen countries had agreed to participate in an effort that will involve joint patrols in Red Sea waters near Yemen.

Each country will contribute what they can, Ryder said, dubbing it a "coalition of the willing."

The crisis in the Red Sea has grown out of the war between Israel and Hamas.

Israel's retaliatory bombardment and invasion of Gaza, which Israeli officials state is aimed at wiping out Hamas, has killed nearly 20,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in the densely populated, coastal enclave.

Western media reports that Houthis and Hezbollah have fired rockets at Israel since the conflict began. The Houthis, meanwhile, have stepped up their Red Sea attacks, threatening to target all ships heading to Israel and warning shipping companies against dealing with Israeli ports.

The attacks have disrupted a key trade route that links Europe and North America with Asia via the Suez Canal and caused container shipping costs to rise sharply as companies seek to ship their goods via alternative, often longer, routes.

The US Navy, British and French navies have responded by shooting down Houthi drones and missiles, defensive actions that some critics in Washington say don't go far enough to discourage the Houthis from continuing their attacks.

 

Raisi talks to Serdar of Turkmenistan

The president of Iran asserts that the crimes committed by the United States and the Israeli regime against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have enraged people internationally. Ebrahim Raisi made the remarks in a Tuesday phone call with his Turkmen counterpart Serdar Berdimuhamedow.

“What is being afflicted on the oppressed people of Gaza in terms of oppression and crime, by the Zionist regime and the US has deeply affected and angered all the Muslims of the world as well as all the people of the world,” the Iranian president said.

The atrocities, he stated, have deeply affected and enraged not only all the world’s Muslims, but also the entire people of the world.”

The president of Iran stressed the necessity of using all resources at hand to support the oppressed Gazan people.

The remarks were made in the midst of the war that Israel has been waging against the Gaza Strip since October 07 in retaliation for an operation that the Palestinian resistance groups had organized.

Washington has exercised its veto power over all UN Security Council resolutions that demanded the establishment of a quick cease-fire throughout the beleaguered Palestinian territories.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Raisi was pleased with the remarkable development of relations between Turkmenistan and Iran, particularly in the area of trade.

He emphasized the necessity of carrying out the significant agreements that had been made during the most recent meeting of the nations’ joint economic commission in the areas of energy, transportation, and transit.

While announcing the readiness of Iran to promote cooperation between the two countries in the field of electricity and gas, Raisi also emphasized the development of cooperation between Tehran and Ashgabat in the transport and transit sector by utilizing the capacity of Iran’s southern ports, including Bandar Abbas and Chabahar Port.

The president also referred to the historical and civilizational background of the two countries and the availability of the ground for further promotion of cultural interactions between the two nations, and announced Iran's readiness to hold a joint cultural program with Turkmenistan and honor common cultural figures and personalities.

The Turkmen official, for his part, also expressed satisfaction with the rising trend of the two nations’ relations in a number of political, economic, and cultural domains.

Berdimuhamedow stated that Ashgabat is well-prepared to carry out bilateral agreements and raise the degree of collaboration between the two nations.

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Saudi Arabia and UAE not present in US led Naval Coalition

Saudi Arabia's name was conspicuously - perhaps surprisingly - absent from a list of countries the United States announced as part of its new naval coalition protecting Red Sea shipping from Yemen's Houthi group.

Although it has a US-equipped military, has been waging war on the Houthis for nearly nine years and relies on Red Sea ports for 36% of imports, Saudi Arabia along with Gulf ally the United Arab Emirates has proclaimed no interest in the venture.

The main reason for its absence appears to be a concern that participating would detract from a long-term strategic goal ‑ extricating itself from a messy war in Yemen and a destructive feud with the Houthis' principal backer Iran.

Houthis, who control much of Yemen, have been striking at ships in the Red Sea for weeks in response to Israel's war with the Palestinian Hamas group in Gaza.

Whether their attacks are having much direct impact on Israel - shipping companies say several targeted vessels were not headed there - their campaign has hit Israel's Western allies by complicating global trade. On Wednesday their leader threatened to expand this campaign to US naval vessels.

US officials have avoided saying outright that the two countries will not take part, and spokespeople for both the Saudi and Emirati governments did not respond to Reuters requests for comment on the matter.

Both the countries want to avoid being seen as participants in a campaign that could upset their long-term regional strategy - and turn Arab anger over Gaza against them.

It appears that Saudi and Emirati absence was because they wanted to avoid escalating tensions with Iran or jeopardizing the peace push in Yemen by joining any naval action.

"Another war would mean moving from the political process into another military one that would really mess up the geopolitical map of the Middle East right now," said Eyad Alrefai of King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah.

Spurred partly by worry about long-term US commitment, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have for years tried to reorient their regional policy, seeking new partners, taking a fresh look at ties with Israel and settling the rivalry with Iran.

The biggest steps in that process so far were the Chinese-mediated detente agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran in February and the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and the UAE in 2020.

But the Saudis also want to end their nearly 9-year-old war in Yemen, which has become a draining stalemate that has damaged their reputations and brought insecurity through Houthi drone attacks on airports and energy plants.

Peace in Yemen is important for the UAE too, even though it largely pulled out its forces in 2020. It still backs groups in Yemen and the Houthis targeted its capital Abu Dhabi with drone and missile attacks last year.

 

Malaysia bans Israeli-linked shipping

Malaysian government announced on Wednesday imposition of a ban on all Israeli owned and flagged ships, as well as any vessels headed to Israel, from docking at its ports.

The announcement by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s office said the ban would take place with immediate effect and was in response to Israel’s conduct in its conflict with Hamas.

“This sanction is a response to Israel’s actions that disregard the basic humanitarian principles and violate international law through the ongoing massacre and continuous cruelty against the Palestinian people,” the statement read.

Muslim-majority Malaysia has long championed Palestinian rights and causes. Like Indonesia, Brunei, Bangladesh, the Maldives and Pakistan, it does not recognize Israel.

The ongoing bombardment of Gaza by Israel’s military has sparked mass rallies in Malaysia and put domestic political pressure on Anwar.

Anwar remains one of the most outspoken world leaders against Israel as well as its backers in the United States, although the latter remains a major trading partner.

In a parliamentary speech made in November, Anwar said that the government would maintain ties with Hamas and would not punish the group.

Malaysian passports also bear the inscription “Valid for all countries except Israel.” Israeli passport holders are forbidden to enter Malaysia without prior permission.

In its statement, the Malaysian government said Israeli-registered companies and ships had been previously allowed to dock in the country since 2005. “However, the government today has decided to override the past Cabinet’s decision to not allow ships using Israeli flags to dock in the country.”

The statement on Wednesday also singled out the Israel-based global shipping company ZIM. Its vessels have been docking in Malaysia since 2002, the statement said.

In addition, Malaysia has also imposed a ban on any ship that is heading to Israel from loading cargo at Malaysian ports.

UNSC vote on Gaza delayed due to the US resistance

Intense negotiations have delayed a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) vote on a resolution addressing the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip amid the war between Israel and Hamas. A vote is now expected to take place on Wednesday. 

The 15-member Security Council was expected to meet for a vote on a resolution sponsored by the United Arab Emirates that called for an urgent suspension of hostilities and to scale up humanitarian assistance in the strip, according to draft text provided by the UN.

The United States has opposed all recent resolutions proposed in the Security Council and General Assembly that have withheld condemning Hamas’s attack against Israel on October 07, which triggered the nearly 11-week war.

The US used its veto power in the Security Council on December 08 to kill a resolution calling for a humanitarian cease-fire, condemning the text as divorced from reality and for failing to condemn Hamas’s attack.

While resolutions passed in the General Assembly are statements for the record, Security Council resolutions are legally binding, although there’s few if any mechanisms of enforcement.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said the US was engaging constructively with colleagues on the Security Council on the text of the resolution.

“We would welcome a resolution that fully supports addressing the humanitarian needs of the people in Gaza but … the details of it very much do matter,” Miller said. 

Draft text published by the United Nations calls for an urgent suspension of hostilities, so far holding back on calling for a direct cease-fire.

Selected text made public does not yet mention Hamas, but it demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and condemns all acts of terrorism.

 

Israel using starvation as weapon in Gaza

A report by human rights organization, Human Rights Watch, has accused the Israeli government of committing war crimes by allegedly resorting to starvation as a method of warfare in the occupied Gaza Strip.

The organization alleges that Israeli forces are obstructing the delivery of essential resources, including water, food, and fuel, and hindering humanitarian assistance, exacerbating the already dire conditions in the region.

Since the October 07, 2023 high-ranking Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Energy Minister Israel Katz, have openly expressed their intent to deprive Gazan civilians of basic necessities.

Human Rights Watch claims that this policy is being implemented by Israeli forces, constituting a violation of international humanitarian law.

Omar Shakir, Director for Israel and Palestine at Human Rights Watch, stated, "For over two months, Israel has been depriving Gaza's population of food and water, a policy spurred on or endorsed by high-ranking Israeli officials and reflecting an intent to starve civilians as a method of warfare."

Human Rights Watch conducted interviews with 11 displaced Palestinians between November 24 and December 04, revealing the profound hardships faced by Gazans in securing basic necessities. One interviewee lamented, "We had no food, no electricity, no internet, nothing at all."

In southern Gaza, individuals described the scarcity of potable water, empty shops, long lines for food, and soaring prices.

The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) reported on December 06 that 9 out of 10 households in northern Gaza and 2 out of 3 households in southern Gaza had experienced at least one full day and night without food.

“Human Rights Watch ... did not condemn the attack on Israeli citizens and the massacre of October 07 and has no moral basis to talk about what’s going on in Gaza if they turn a blind eye to the suffering and the human rights of Israelis,” foreign ministry spokesman Lior Haiat told AFP.

The Israeli governmental aid organization Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories reported that 201 humanitarian aid trucks were inspected and transferred toward the Gaza Strip on December 17.

International humanitarian law, specifically the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, prohibits the starvation of civilians as a method of warfare. Deliberately depriving civilians of objects indispensable to their survival is considered a war crime.

In addition to the alleged starvation tactics, Human Rights Watch condemns Israel's ongoing blockade of Gaza, lasting for over 16 years, as collective punishment, also deemed a war crime.

As the occupying power in Gaza, Israel is obligated under the Fourth Geneva Convention to ensure the civilian population's access to food and medical supplies.

The WFP warned of the immediate possibility of starvation on November 17, emphasizing the near non-existence of food and water supplies. Subsequent reports indicated a high risk of famine and severe hunger levels in Gaza.

The Norwegian Refugee Council highlighted catastrophic water, sanitation, and hygiene needs on November 03.

The report detailed the shutdown of wastewater and desalination facilities, exacerbating the already critical water situation in Gaza.

Even before the recent hostilities, Gaza faced a severe lack of potable water, with 1.2 million of its 2.2 million people estimated to be facing acute food insecurity.

Israel's military actions, including extensive airstrikes and the destruction of vital infrastructure, have further compounded the humanitarian crisis.

The ongoing bombardment has damaged or destroyed bakeries, grain mills, agriculture, water and sanitation facilities, and road networks, making aid delivery  challenging.

Human Rights Watch calls for an immediate cessation of the alleged use of starvation as a weapon of war by the Israeli government.

The organization urges Israel to comply with international law, lift the blockade on Gaza, and ensure the delivery of essential resources, including water, electricity, medical aid, and food.

The international community is implored to respond urgently to the deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, with Human Rights Watch suggesting concerned governments, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Germany, suspend military assistance and arms sales to Israel as long as alleged abuses continue with impunity.

"The Israeli government is compounding its collective punishment of Palestinian civilians and the blocking of humanitarian aid by its alleged use of starvation as a weapon of war," said Omar Shakir.

"The deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza calls for an urgent and effective response from the international community."

 

Houthis: A threat to maritime or US hegemony

The United States on Tuesday launched a multinational operation to safeguard commerce in the Red Sea as attacks by Yemeni militants forced major shipping companies to reroute, fuelling concern over sustained disruptions to global trade.

Britain, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain were among nations involved in the Red Sea security operation.

The group, widely dubbed in media reports as a task force that will conduct joint patrols in the southern Red Sea and the adjacent Gulf of Aden.

According to US this is an international challenge that demands collective action and demand other countries to contribute.

This reminds the world of a hoax call of presence of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) in Iraq.

The matter of the fact is that Houthis have stepped up their Red Sea attacks, threatening to target all ships heading to Israel and warning shipping companies against dealing with Israeli ports.

As usual the ‘dishonest media’ is playing the US mantra. The reports claim that attacks have begun to take their toll on global trade, disrupting a key trade route that links Europe and North America with Asia via the Suez Canal.

The media reports say, “The crisis resulting from the war between Israel and Hamas has pit the United States and its allies against Iran and its regional Arab proxy militias”.

On Monday the US said, “Iran was behind the Houthi attacks”, but Iran denied its involvement.

The US and its allies say that the task force aims to send a strong signal to Iran and its proxies.

The Houthis say the US-led security initiative would not deter them.

Many major Arab allies of the United States have so far declined to join the task force.

Reportedly, Bahrain's defence minister met Western counterparts to discuss maritime security, but no details are available.

According to defence experts the naval ships just could not escort all the commercial vessels, at the best the ships could be positioned in areas where they offer the greatest security benefit.

According to Reuters about 12% of world shipping traffic usually transits via the Suez Canal, the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia, passing then as well into Red Sea waters off Yemen.

Normally, about 11,800 voyages are made each month through the Suez Canal - some 393 a day.