Israel widens Gaza operation, warns Hodeida as Washington leans on Doha for a narrow window to a deal

Israeli forces expanded operations in Gaza City after a night of heavy airstrikes, with the military saying it aims to dismantle Hamas infrastructure and again urging civilians to move south. Shifa Hospital reported receiving at least 34 bodies from overnight strikes, with additional casualties from multiple hits in western Gaza City. Long lines of vehicles and families on foot moved down the coast as tens of thousands fled northern Gaza amid warnings of a renewed push.

Regional spillover: Israel warns Houthis in Hodeida

Israel told residents to evacuate Yemen’s Hodeida ahead of anticipated strikes on Houthi targets, citing continued drone and missile launches and attacks on Red Sea shipping. Houthi officials said their air defenses were activated. Any escalation around Hodeida risks deeper maritime disruption that would affect global trade and Western security interests in the Red Sea corridor.

European censure grows as Cairo hardens rhetoric

The European Union urged Israel to halt its Gaza ground operation, warning of catastrophic humanitarian impacts and danger to hostages, with Brussels preparing measures that could tighten pressure on Jerusalem. Britain called the offensive reckless and demanded an immediate ceasefire and aid flows. Spain summoned Israel’s envoy after sharp exchanges between leaders. In Cairo, President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi referred to Israel as an enemy, signaling intensifying regional ire even as Egypt’s security cooperation and border stability remain vital for containment.

Qatar at the center: mediation under fire

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Qatar’s emir in Doha, thanking Qatar for mediation and emphasizing security ties after an Israeli strike in the city last week that Doha says killed six and violated international norms. At the U.N. Human Rights Council, a commission accused Israel of genocide, a claim Israel rejected as distorted and false. The council held a debate without Israel’s delegation present, underscoring how diplomacy and legal scrutiny are intensifying even as battlefield dynamics accelerate.

Stability first: a narrow path to deescalation

Rubio warned the window for a negotiated package is now days or weeks, anchored on releasing hostages and demilitarizing Hamas. For Western allies, the priority is preventing a wider regional conflict while preserving deterrence against Iran’s proxies, ensuring aid reaches civilians, and securing a ceasefire tied to verifiable security benchmarks. That balance will require calibrated pressure on Israel and persistent engagement with Arab partners to keep talks alive and the Red Sea open.