Day 85 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Saturday, Dec. 30

For the second time this month, the Biden administration has used an emergency authority that allows it to bypass traditional congressional review for the sale of weapons to Israel.

Rina Bassist, Ezgi Akin, Beatrice Farhat, Elizabeth Hagedorn, Adam Lucente, Jack Dutton, Jared Szuba and Al-Monitor’s contributors on the ground in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel contributed to this blog.

Click here for our most recent updates.

Live updates (all times EDT):

Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023

9:40 pm: US navy shoots down two missiles fired by Yemen’s Houthis after container ship attacked

US Central Command announced late Saturday that a US destroyer shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The destroyer was responding to a distress call by a container ship.

The USS Gravely had come to the area after a container vessel, the Maersk Hangzhou, reported that it had been hit by a missile. No injuries were reported. 

CENTCOM said the strike from Houthi areas was the 23rd “illegal attack” by the Iran-backed group on international shipping vessels in the Red Sea area since Nov. 19.

6:51 pm: Houthis' 'reckless' attacks in Red Sea will continue, says US commander

Yemen’s Houthi rebels will continue their “reckless” attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, top commander of US naval forces in the Middle East Vice Adm. Brad Cooper said in an interview with the Associated Press Saturday, just over 10 days after the Pentagon announced a multination task force to secure vital shipping routes.

Since Operation Prosperity Guardian was announced on Dec. 18, 1,200 commercial ships have traveled through the Red Sea region without any drone or missile attacks, Cooper noted.

Since the Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7, the Iran-backed Houthis have stepped up attacks on commercial tankers they say are linked to Israel.

“We are cleareyed that the Houthi reckless attacks will likely continue,” Cooper said.

3:15 pm: Netanyahu warns Hezbollah, Iran they “will receive blows” if war escalates

During a Saturday news conference, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Lebanon-based Hezbollah — and Iran, which backs the group — that it would face severe repercussions for expanding its attacks on northern Israel. 

"If Hezbollah expands the war, it will receive blows it never dreamed of, and so will Iran," Netanyahu said, adding that Israel will do whatever it takes "until we restore security to the residents of the north."

Netanyahu also said that more time is needed for the country’s military to accomplish its goals in its war with Hamas, adding that fighting will continue for “many more months.”

“In addition to the ongoing activity in the north of the Gaza Strip, and at the same time as the battles in Khan Younis in the south of the Gaza Strip, our forces are attacking the terrorists in the center of the Gaza Strip,” he said.

2:20 pm: Israeli FM denounces South Africa’s ICC move as 'blood libel'

South Africa’s decision to file a genocide case at the International Criminal Court is “blood libel,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a Saturday statement. 

The statement also accused South Africa of cooperating with Hamas.

“Israel rejects with disgust the blood libel spread by South Africa in its application to the International Court of Justice,” the statement read, adding, “South Africa's claim lacks both a factual and a legal basis, and constitutes a despicable and contemptuous exploitation of the court.”

12:00 pm: Israeli military pauses operations in Rafah for four hours

The IDF announced a temporary suspension of military activity in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza for four hours for “humanitarian purposes” and to “resupply.”

“A local and temporary tactical suspension of military activities for humanitarian purposes will take place in Rafah camp from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm, for the purpose of resupply,” Israel’s Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee said in a post on X.

8:20 am: Israel ramps up activity in central, southern Gaza

Israel’s military is intensifying its operations in central and southern Gaza, with tanks pushing into several regions amid ongoing airstrikes and artillery fire, local residents told Reuters on Saturday.

Health authorities in Gaza say the recent bombardment has killed 165 people in the past 24 hours. 

Click here for our most recent updates.