Tens of thousands are demonstrating against the government in Israel. Foreign Minister Baerbock hopes for a ceasefire soon. More information in the news blog.
The most important things at a glance
12.05 pm: According to media reports, the US and Britain have helped Israel prepare a military operation that rescued four hostages from the Gaza Strip on Saturday. Thanks in part to this international help, Israeli intelligence is making progress in the search for hostages, the New York Times reported on Sunday.
The military operation at the weekend was rehearsed for weeks, reports the Washington Post. Models of the buildings in Nuseirat where the hostages were believed to be were built. In addition, the US military is to support the search for hostages with drones.
According to the Hamas-controlled health authority, 274 Palestinians were killed and around 700 others injured in the rescue operation on Saturday. Israel's army spokesman Daniel Hagari, on the other hand, spoke of fewer than 100 fatalities on Saturday evening.
9.20 am: Shortly before another Middle East visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Hamas is calling on the American government to persuade Israel to end the Gaza war. The US should put appropriate pressure on Israel, explains Hamas representative Sami Abu Suhri, adding: “The Hamas movement is ready to positively welcome any initiative that ensures an end to the war.”
The US is currently making increased efforts to persuade Hamas and Israel to agree to a ceasefire. According to the US State Department, Blinken wants to convey to Hamas that the terrorist organization should accept an Israeli plan for a permanent ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
19:58: Due to differences of opinion over the future of the Gaza Strip, Minister Benny Gantz is leaving the emergency government formed in Israel after the terrorist attack by the Islamist Hamas on October 7. Read more about it here.
16:48: According to army reports, 26-year-old Noa Argamani was taken from apartment to apartment while being held hostage in the Gaza Strip. Most recently, she was held in a locked room in an apartment in the center of the coastal area, where she was guarded by many armed men.
According to an Israeli media report, the young woman was most recently living with a Palestinian family with whom she communicated in Arabic. The Israeli woman saw little daylight and was rarely allowed to leave the apartment – and when she did, she had to disguise herself as an Arab woman, as “The Jerusalem Post” writes. Read more about this here.
14:36: Following the liberation of four Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip, more and more details of the dramatic operation are emerging. Israeli special forces entered the refugee district of Nuseirat in the center of the coastal strip on Saturday.
According to media reports on Sunday, three male hostages aged between 22 and 41 were being held in a house, and a 26-year-old woman was being held in another house around 200 metres away. In order to surprise the hostages' guards, the troops entered both buildings at the same time at 11 a.m. local time.
4.55 am: The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported further damage to a ship. It received a report from a ship's captain about an incident 70 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni city of Aden. “The captain reports that the ship was hit by an unknown projectile in the rear area, which caused a fire. Damage control is underway,” the UKMTO said in a statement. It added that there were no injuries and the ship was heading for its next port of call.
1:30: According to the British maritime security company Ambrey, a freighter was hit by a missile off the coast of Yemen and caught fire. “The ship was travelling south-west in the Gulf of Aden at a speed of 8.2 knots when the forward section was hit by a missile. A fire broke out but was neutralised,” Ambrey said in a statement. “A second missile was sighted but did not hit the ship. Persons on board small boats nearby opened fire on the ship during the incident.” The ship changed course at increased speed towards a port, and no injuries were reported, according to Ambrey.
