The Times of Israel is liveblogging Tuesday’s events as they happen.
UK navy: Ship near Djibouti sustained ‘superficial damage’ in suspected Houthi drone attack
The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations and private security firm Ambrey report a suspected Houthi drone attack targeting a ship off Djibouti in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. UKMTO describes the vessel as sustaining “superficial damage.”
Biden’s top Middle East adviser to visit Israel and Egypt this week –report
US President Joe Biden’s top adviser for the Middle East is slated to visit Israel and Egypt this week to discuss a potential IDF operation in Gaza’s Rafah and the efforts to free the hostages held by Hamas, the Axios news site reports.
Citing Israeli and US officials, the report says Brett McGurk is expected to fly on Wednesday to Cairo to meet with Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, before traveling to Israel the next day for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and other Israeli officials.
There is no immediate comment from the White House.
US official: Administration not planning ‘to rush’ vote on UN measure urging Gaza truce
A senior US official is quoted by Reuters as saying the Biden administration is not planning “to rush” passage of a UN Security Council resolution it introduced that urges a temporary ceasefire in Gaza and warns Israeli forces against entering Rafah.
“We do not plan to rush our text to a vote. We don’t believe a rush to a vote is necessary or constructive and intend on allowing time for negotiations,” says the administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
A second senior US administration official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, says the US draft does not suggest “anything about the dynamics of any particular relationship, whether that’s with the Israelis or any other partner we have.”