Middle East conflict updates

On Friday, Israeli airstrikes killed five people in Gaza and three in the West Bank, despite a fragile ceasefire brokered by the United States. In Gaza, strikes killed two brothers and a relative in State of Palestine — Khan Yunis and two others in State of Palestine — Gaza City, according to hospital officials. In the West Bank, an airstrike in Palestine — Jenin killed three Palestinians, including Qais Bitawi, described by Israel as a Hamas operative. Since the October ceasefire, Israeli strikes have killed at least 1,303 Palestinians in Gaza, according to health officials. Separately, the Iran war continues to disrupt shipping: the International — International Maritime Organization reported 19 seafarers killed and at least 6,000 stranded on ships in the Persian Gulf, with 70 attacks on shipping since the war began. Iran and Russia are seeking to revive a plan to pipe 55 billion cubic meters of Russian gas annually to Iran via Azerbaijan, which could help Iran withstand U.S. sanctions. The U.S. Treasury proposed a rule to sever Banque Misr's UAE branches from the U.S. financial system, accusing the Egyptian bank of serving as an economic lifeline to Iran. Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned the U.S. measures as 'economic terrorism.' Finland announced it will not extend its funding agreement with UNRWA, redirecting aid through other channels. The UK warned Israel against removing British officials from the Gaza ceasefire coordination center, after Israel removed two Dutch diplomats. Iran's leader Mojtaba Khamenei declared actions undermining national unity prohibited, while President Masoud Pezeshkian called for negotiations with the U.S. The U.S. also revoked the visa of former Iraqi finance minister Taif Sami Mohammed Al Shakarchi.