Eilat port faces worst crisis
as Red Sea shipping
collapses
January 12th, 7:05pm
(Al Mayadeen English)
The Israeli Eilat port faces its worst crisis on record, with
revenues near zero, as Red Sea shipping disruptions
and attacks - halt operations.
The southern port of Eilat in occupied Palestine is facing the
most severe crisis in its history, with operations nearly
paralyzed for more than two years amid disruptions
to Red Sea shipping routes - attacks on vessels,
and escalating regional tensions, according
to Yedioth Ahronoth.
The newspaper reported that port workers arrive each morning
to empty docks, prepared to work, but with no ships docking.
Once generating around 240 million shekels annually, the
port’s revenues --- have dropped to almost zero, while
government assistance has amounted to just
15 million shekels.
According to the report, the General Federation of Labour, the
Histadrut, pledged an additional 5 million shekels to prevent
layoffs, but the funds have yet to be delivered... due to a
suspected conflict-of-interest scandal involving its
head, Arnon Bar-David.
The crisis has been compounded by a recent decision by the
finance and transport ministries not to extend the port’s
operating concession, citing a failure to meet required
conditions. Port management is reportedly preparing
to challenge the decision ..and demand that the
government reverse its stance.
Ansar Allah halted Red Sea shipments
Yedioth Ahronoth noted that operations at the Port of Eilat came to
a complete halt - after Sanaa seized a vessel bound for the port in
November 2023. This followed what had been a record year, with
around 150,000 vehicles handled by October 2023 and
expectations of another 15,000 arrivals.
Port finance vice president Batya Zafrani said that on the day of the
incident, shipping companies NYK and ZIM.. suspended deliveries
for several months. “We thought the government would intervene,
but after three months we began worrying about the workers’
future,” she said, adding ---- that the 15 million shekels in
government aid will only cover 2 months of operations.
Avi Hormaro, chairman of the Eilat port and chief executive of the
Nakash Group, criticized the government’s handling of the crisis,
saying the Israeli occupation authorities had neglected the
port. “The transport ministry is making efforts, but other
ministries ....are not interested,” he said.
Hormaro added that just as Kiryat Shmona had been forgotten, the
port is also being sidelined, arguing that “a group in Yemen ---- is
deciding for the Israeli occupation whether it has a southern
port or not.” He stressed that responsibility for keeping the
Red Sea shipping lanes open - lies with the government,
not the port authority.
Eilat port shut down - due to debt
The Israeli economic media outlet The Marker reported in July that
the port of Eilat will completely cease operations starting next
Sunday after the city municipality froze its bank accounts
due to millions of shekels in accumulated debts.
This development comes as the port has faced near-total paralysis
since November 2023, when Yemen imposed a naval blockade on
ships heading to "Israel", leading to a sharp decline in revenue
and a collapse in commercial activity at the facility.
The Eilat Municipality announced that it had frozen the port's bank
accounts due to massive accumulated debts, and according to
the Israeli economic outlet The Marker, all operations will
come to a complete halt starting Sunday, signaling a
total economic shutdown of the port.
The crisis at Eilat Port began when Yemeni forces imposed a naval
blockade on ships heading to "Israel," prompting international
shipping companies to avoid the Red Sea route, which
brought the port's operations to a near standstill
and caused a collapse in its revenue.
Source: Agencies
______________________________________
100 writers pull out of Australia arts event
after Palestinian author ----- is ''disinvited''
January 12th, 5:16pm
(PressTV)
Dozens of writers and several board members - have resigned from
Australia’s Adelaide Festival after a Palestinian‑Australian author
was dropped from the event over what organizers described as
“cultural sensitivities” following a December shooting attack
on a Jewish ceremony at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
The mass resignation followed the ban on Randa Abdel-Fattah in
the Writers’ Week event at the festival, which will take place
from February 27 to March 15, 2026.
The Adelaide Festival confirmed its chairman and three board
members, as well as 100 writers from 124 participants, had
resigned in protest at the cancellation of Abdel-Fattah's
invitation. The blocked author’s lawyers ------ also
demanded an explanation.
Australia’s premier annual cultural event, which attracts artists
from around the world, unleashed the storm last Thursday,
when it told Abdel-Fattah it did not “wish to proceed”
with her appearance at its Writers’ Week.
“Whilst we do not suggest in any way that Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah
or her writings have any connection with the tragedy at Bondi,
given her past statements, we have formed the view that it
would not be culturally sensitive to continue to program
her at this unprecedented time so soon after Bondi,”
it asserted, in a statement.
The festival board said it was “shocked and saddened” by
the December 14th mass shooting during the Hanukkah
celebration on Bondi Beach, which killed 15 people.
The death toll could have been higher if Ahmed al-Ahmed,
a 43-year-old Muslim Australian of Syrian descent... had
not tackled one of the shooters and snatched his gun.
The shunned author and academic said it is a “blatant
--- and shameless --- act of anti-Palestinian racism.”
It was a “despicable attempt to associate me with
the Bondi massacre,” she said, in a statement.
Her legal representatives, Marque Lawyers, sent a letter
to the festival on Sunday ---- demanding that it identify
statements by the author that justified excluding her.
Festival executive director Julian Hobba said the arts body
is “facing a complex and unprecedented moment”, since
this “significant community response” .....to the
council's decision.
_________________________________________________
US bases will ‘burn in fire’ if Iran attacked,
Parliament speaker warns Trump
January 12th, 3:04pm
(PressTV)
The speaker of Iran’s Parliament has issued a stark warning to US
President Donald Trump after he renewed his threat of military
action against Tehran, saying US military bases, ships, and
personnel in the region will be targeted ---- in the event of
such a “miscalculation.”
“Come and see what will happen to American ships and military bases
in the region," Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said, as he addressed a vast
rally in Tehran held to condemn the recent foreign-linked riots across
the country and reiterate their support for the Islamic Republic.
"Come and burn in the fire of the Iranian nation so severely that it
becomes a lasting lesson in history, for all oppressive US rulers.
Come and find out what will happen to you and to the region,”
he added.
Trump said overnight that “we’re looking at some very strong options”
against Iran, in the latest threat that he might order a military strike
against Iran in support of the foreign-linked riots.
“Be careful that the advice you receive about attacking Iran is not
of the same kind as the advice that led you to claim Mashhad
had fallen. So be cautious not to make a miscalculation,
because regret will be of no use,” Qalibaf said.
The speaker said the Iranian people -- once again -- defeated the
enemies by standing alongside the military and security forces.
“The beloved Iranian people once again dealt a blow to the enemies’
terrorist war against the nation and the country,” he told the crowd.
"Upon an announcement by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting
(IRIB)," he said, "the people took to the stage, stationed in mosques,
stood alongside Basij volunteers, as well as military and security
forces, and … defeated the enemies."
Qalibaf said that during the military aggression of June 2025 - against
the country, the Iranian Armed Forces, with the support of the people,
defeated the United States and the Israeli regime, which had sought
to disintegrate a strong, independent Iran.
He was referring to the illegal US-Israeli war that killed at least 1,064
Iranians between June 13 and 24 and came to a halt through Iran’s
successful retaliatory strikes.
“Today, seven months after the war, the enemies are still pursuing
their ominous and criminal plot against a strong and independent
Iran,” Qalibaf stated.
“We all saw the US President [Donald Trump] overtly and officially
threatening Iran --- because he had decided to initiate a civil war
...under any pretext.”
Additionally, the top legislator said that --- in recent riots, the enemies
exploited rightful protests over economic grievances as their armed
foreign mercenaries waged a terrorist war against the nation - and
committed Daesh-style crimes against civilians and policemen.
“The enemies thought that the Iranian people would disperse by
a military attack. They always miscalculate the greatness and
grandeur of the Iranian nation. This time, they once again
made a mistake ...by seeking to foment chaos in the
country,” he stated.
“Ninety million people with different religions and dialects, and
various political inclinations, stood against the enemy and
marked a milestone in Iranian awakening.”
Qalibaf said the Iranian nation is the rival of the “deluded
and arrogant” president of the United States.
_____________________________________________
China rejects Trump’s threat of
military action against Iran
January 12th, 2:40pm
(PressTV)
China has opposed the US' interference in the internal affairs of Iran,
as US President Donald Trump threatened to attack the Islamic
Republic in support of US-Israeli-backed rioters.
“We always oppose interference in other countries' internal affairs
and call on parties that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
all countries should be respected,” Chinese Foreign Ministry
spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing
on Monday.
“We oppose the use of force or the threat of the use of force
in international relations,” Mao said, adding, “We call on all
parties --- to act in ways conducive to peace and stability
in the Middle East.”
The Chinese diplomat further stated Beijing "hopes the Iranian
government and people will overcome the current difficulties
and uphold stability in the country.”
The remarks come as Trump said his administration
is looking “very seriously” at the situation in Iran.
“The military is looking at it, and we're looking at some very
strong options. We'll make a determination,” Trump told
reporters on Sunday.
What began as peaceful protests late last month gradually
turned violent, as some rioters, incited by interventionist
remarks by US and Israeli officials, rampaged through
cities across the country --- killing security forces
and destroying public infrastructure.
President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that armed
rioters were trained by the US and Israeli spy agencies,
both inside and outside the country.
In a media briefing on Monday, Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson
for the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign
Policy Committee, stated that "the committee’s findings
so far show foreign interference, specifically by the
Americans and the Zionists ----- evident in the
recent incidents.”
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday
described the current situation as a “terrorist war.”
“Iranian authorities possess audio recordings of voice messages
sent to terrorist elements ordering them to open fire on civilians
and the security forces,” he stated.
Iran's top diplomat said the terrorist groups targeted government
buildings, police stations, and shops. He stressed - that Iranian
authorities have images showing weapons being distributed
among rioters.
__________________________________________
The Iranian fortress held out: the government
suppressed an externally-inspired rebellion
by Lyubov Stepushova
January 12th, 2:02pm
(Pravda.ru)
The Iranian government -- has repelled a terrorist attack,
accusing the United States and Israel of planning and
supplying the rebels. This is a good sign for Russia.
The turning point in Iran has arrived
Iranians gathered in Tehran today to express their opposition to
the anti-government riots. This was a gathering of hundreds of
thousands or even millions of people, in contrast to the small
anti-government protests of days earlier.
All Iranian opposition Telegram channels (often broadcasting from
Israel) have fallen silent. It is clear that the psychological attack
on Iran by the United States and Israel has failed, and the fake
news (such as the photo of an Iranian woman lighting a
cigarette from a Quran, which was actually taken in
Canada) has had no effect, as has the calls by
American citizen, Reza Pahlavi (the heir to
the Shah) to seize government buildings,
kill government officials.... and display
the Shah's flags in Iranian embassies
around the world.
It turns out that this man had nothing but Trump:
no government in exile, no concrete plans, and
no support within Iran.
What measures did Tehran take
The critical mass of protesters was overcome three days after
the peak of the terror on January 8. The Iranian government
shut down the internet --- sent the army to the most active
cities - and began to eliminate the organizers of the riots.
Hundreds of bodies of rioters were shown in black bags,
which had an effect on the ''extras'', paid for by Israel.
And for the rest, it was clear ------ that this whole "revolution"
- was nothing more than an external attempt to dismember
the country, destroy the state and take over its resources.
The arson of mosques and the desecration of holy
sites (even medieval ones), the murder and
dismemberment of people, and the
pogroms carried out by these
"revolutionaries" ...have all
contributed to the unity
of the Iranian people.
President Massoud Pezeshkian has openly accused the US
and Israel of organizing terrorism by training individuals
and bringing them into the country. He has declared
three days of mourning in honour of the "National
Battle for Resistance to the US-Israel-backed
Terrorist Insurrection." For Iran, this is an
existential war for life, sovereignty,
and dignity.
In identifying the organizers, special attention was paid to
Mossad agents among the migrants. As a result of the
accelerated trials, the first batch of convicted riot
leaders will likely be publicly executed.
For Russia, Iran's stability is a good sign
Unless the United States intervenes militarily or some other
tragic event occurs, this round of Iran's war with American
imperialism will end like all previous ones, with the
Islamic Republic remaining in power... which is
important for Russia... which has significant
investment projects with Iran, particularly
the North-South transport corridor.
As for a possible war, the Iranian parliament speaker has warned
that any military attack by the United States will be met with a
massive response, calling Israel and all U.S. bases and ships
potential targets. Iran's psychological barrier was broken
during the 12-day war, so.... there is no doubt about this
promise. There is also no doubt about the assistance
Russia has provided to Iran in terms of new air
defense supplies.
________________________________________________
Another Palestinian dies in Israeli
prison due to medical negligence
January 12th, 11:32am
(PressTV)
Palestinian prisoners’ advocacy groups say a Palestinian abductee
died in an Israeli prison - due to deliberate medical negligence.
They announced in a statement on Monday that Hamzeh Adwan,
from the Gaza Strip, passed away in an Israeli hospital after
his health condition had deteriorated.. due to
medical negligence.
The advocacy groups placed full responsibility for Adwan’s death
on the Israeli prison authorities, and urged the international
community to step in and ensure the protection of
Palestinian abductees ------ held illeglly in the
occupying regime's detention facilities.
Palestinian rights groups state that Israel has intensified its
violations against Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, with
reports pointing to an increasing number of deaths
caused by severe detention conditions, such as
a lack of medical care, and by mistreatment.
According to Palestinian figures, more than 100 Palestinian
abductees have lost their lives in Israeli custody since
October 2023, with many Gazan prisoners still
subjected to enforced disappearance.
In November, Israel released nearly 2,000 abductees,
including 1,700 from Gaza, under a ceasefire and
prisoner exchange agreement with the Hamas
resistance movement.
Many of those released at the time --- were in poor health,
sharing accounts of torture, starvation, and humiliation
endured during their time inside Israeli prisons.
Over 10,000 Palestinians, including women and children,
are currently held in Israeli prisons, where they face
medical neglect and conditions that have resulted
in the deaths of several abductees, as reported
by both Palestinian and Israeli human
rights groups.
_____________________________________
Nearly two dozen Palestinians -- including kids,
freeze to death in Gaza amid Israeli blockade
January 12th, 10:12am
(PressTV)
Nearly two dozen Palestinians, most of them children, have been
killed in Gaza due to severe cold, as displaced families continue
to endure harsh winter conditions compounded by the ongoing
impacts of a two-year Israeli genocidal war and siege against
the narrow strip.
The Government Media Office in Gaza reported that 21 individuals,
including 18 children, have died across the Strip as children and
families seeking refuge in fragile and makeshift tents are
struggling against freezing temperatures.
The media official announced in a statement that the worsening
humanitarian crisis in Gaza is taking a heavy toll on the local
population, and stringent Israeli restrictions on the entry of
basic commodities, together with multiple collapses of
buildings and structures in several regions, have
made life thoroughly miserable.
It holds the Israeli authorities --- entirely responsible for the
ongoing atrocities in Gaza and the relevant repercussions.
The office emphasized that the brutalities fall within the framework
of the regime’s policies of the deliberate starvation of Palestinians
in Gaza and the forced displacement from their homeland.
It urged the international community, the United Nations, as well as
humanitarian and legal institutions, to take immediate action and
provide safe refuge centres as well as heating appliances for
displaced Gazans.
Civil defense and ambulance services.... say low temperatures are
severely affecting children, the elderly, and those who are unwell.
They point to instances of intense shivering, significant loss of
body heat, worsening respiratory conditions, and the risk of
further fatalities.
Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem has stated that the
international community is abandoning the people of Gaza,
as Israel persists in striking the coastal region despite a
ceasefire that has been in place for three months.
“World leaders and the international community continue to
abdicate their responsibility, abandoning the people of
Gaza and enabling Israel to continue its destructive
campaign unabated behind the smokescreen of a
‘ceasefire’,” the group said in a post on X.
B’Tselem reported that the majority of Palestinians are facing
severe shortages of adequate shelter and essential supplies
like food, water, and medicine.
Furthermore, Israel is still restricting access for medical teams,
humanitarian workers, and foreign journalists to enter Gaza,
even after the ceasefire.
“This limits the availability of vital care, conceals reality
on the ground and prevents documentation of harm to
the population,” the statement noted.
Since the Gaza ceasefire came into effect on October 10, the
Israeli army has repeatedly breached the agreement,
resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians
and injuries to more than 1,100 others.
Israeli attacks on Gaza have resulted in over 71,000 deaths,
the majority being women and children, and left more than
172,000 people injured since October 2023. These
actions have persisted --------- despite the
announced truce.
_______________________________________
One person killed ----- in Israeli strikes on
southern Lebanon amid truce violations
January 12th, 7:09am
(PressTV)
The Israeli military has carried out a series of airstrikes on
southern Lebanon, killing one person, amid the Tel Aviv
regime’s recurrent violations of a ceasefire in place
since late 2024.
The Public Health Emergency Operations Centre at the
Health Ministry announced in a brief statement that
an “Israeli enemy strike on a car in Bint Jbeil city
in south Lebanon resulted in the martyrdom
of one citizen” on Sunday.
The Israeli army later claimed on the social media platform X
that the attack targeted a member of the Hezbollah
resistance movement.
Moreover, Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA)
reported that “enemy warplanes launched more than 10
raids” on the town of Kfar Hatta, which lies north of the
Litani River, causing “significant damage” --- to
buildings there.
The Israeli military had earlier issued an evacuation warning
for the local population in Kafr Hatta, claiming... it was
“striking Hezbollah infrastructure in several areas.”
The attacks on Sunday came days after the Lebanese army said it
had completed disarming Hezbollah south of the Litani – the first
phase of a US-devised plan under the ceasefire agreement. The
Israeli regime has, however, called those efforts insufficient.
Since the ceasefire ''took effect'' ...last year, Israeli
attacks have killed hundreds of Lebanese citizens.
Under the truce agreement, Israeli forces were expected to
withdraw from southern Lebanon by January. However,
the withdrawal has been only partial, with a
continued military presence at
five border outposts.
On December 18th, French, Saudi Arabian, and US representatives
convened in Paris with the leader of the Lebanese Armed Forces
(LAF) to discuss and finalize a roadmap aimed at establishing a
mechanism for disarming Hezbollah.
The meeting came as part of continued pressure
aimed at forcing Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah.
The resistance group maintains it will not disarm
while Israel occupies southern Lebanon and
carries out attacks in the region.
