Houthis Confirm Meeting with Hamas and Other Palestinian Groups in Beirut

A Houthi official told AFP that the group met with Hamas and other Palestinian factions in Lebanon. The meeting took place in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, and discussed the "escalation of conflicts and the siege" by Israel. The official, who requested anonymity, added that the meeting occurred last week and included not only the Houthis and Hamas but also two groups, Islamic Jihad and the "Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine." Palestinian officials told AFP on Friday that representatives of the Houthis and Palestinian groups discussed "mechanisms for coordinating their actions" for the "next phase" of the war in Gaza. Another anonymous Palestinian source told AFP that the meeting addressed the "complementary role of Ansarullah (Houthis) alongside other Palestinian factions, especially in the event of an Israeli attack on Rafah." Hamas and the Houthis belong to what Tehran calls the "Axis of Resistance," a coalition of militant groups affiliated with the Islamic Republic in confrontation with Israel and the U.S., which also includes Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iraqi militants. Houthi militants in Yemen, supported by the Islamic Republic, have repeatedly attacked international commercial ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea with missiles and drones since early November, claiming to support the Palestinians. Many of these attacks have been thwarted by U.S. forces or the coalition, and numerous of their bases in Yemen have been targeted by independent or joint attacks from the U.S. military and other U.S. allies. The Biden administration, which removed the Houthis from the list of terrorist organizations shortly after taking office in January 2021, re-designated the group as "specially designated global terrorists" on February 16. Following the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the hostage-taking of over 250 others, Israel launched an offensive against Gaza aimed at destroying this Islamic group supported by the Islamic Republic. This offensive has displaced the majority of the 2.3 million population of Gaza, who urgently need food and other necessities. Despite the devastating consequences of Hamas's terrorist attack on Israel, officials from this Islamic group have repeatedly emphasized that they will carry out similar attacks again if possible. Hamas, without mentioning the number of its members killed as a result of the Israeli offensive in Gaza, claims that over 31,000 Palestinians living in Gaza have been killed and about 73,000 others injured. The Persian section of Voice of America cannot independently verify or confirm the figures provided by Hamas. Meanwhile, Israel has repeatedly emphasized that Hamas uses Palestinian civilians as human shields. The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, Israel, and several other countries have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization. Egypt: Ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas are expected to resume. The President of Cyprus: The second shipment of maritime aid is ready to be sent to Gaza. The Israeli Defense Minister: Governance of Gaza by groups affiliated with the Palestinian Authority is the least desirable option. The first ship carrying food aid has arrived at the shores of Gaza. Israel rejected Hamas's new ceasefire proposal. The U.S. and the U.K. have urged the UN to prevent the shipment of Iranian missiles to the Houthis in Yemen. Netanyahu: The Israeli army will enter Rafah. Blinken: Ensuring the safety of civilians is a priority for the Biden administration and a strong commitment of the United States to Israel. Continued Israeli airstrikes in the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon; Hezbollah facilities targeted.