01/10/2025 08:27
The Guardian
Hamas has said it will review the outline of Trump’s Gaza plan, as leaders across the Middle East voiced support for the proposalYemen’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.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. Continue reading...
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