Cash-strapped Sri Lanka s navy said Monday it was joining a US-led maritime taskforce to protect international shipping against attacks by Yemen s Huthi rebels. Wickramasuriya said the move would add no additional cost as the vessel was already patrolling Sri Lanka s vast maritime boundary.
Mia Schem, a 21-year-old dual citizen of Israel and France, was attending a music festival in southern Israel when Hamas militants burst across the border and raided the event site on Oct. 7. More than 300 people were killed and dozens taken hostage.
On Dec. 15, the military immediately took responsibility for killing the three hostages, who were abducted by militants during Hamas Oct. 7 attack on towns in southern Israel. They were among 240 people taken hostage by the Palestinian group. The Israel military published its findings on Thursday and concluded "that there was no malice in the event, and the soldiers carried out the right action to the best of their understanding of the event at that moment."
Israel stated on Monday that it was escalating its military operations against Hamas in Gaza, contributing to worsening conditions for civilians in the region after 12 weeks of continuous strikes. Pope Francis expressed concern over the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, urging an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages during his traditional Christmas message at the Vatican.