YEMENI MEDIA: US warplanes carried out two airstrikes early Monday morning targeting a cotton gin in the Zabid district of Hodeidah, western Yemen.

AL-AQSA TV:

Israeli drones bombed the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood west of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip overnight. The channel also reported that drones targeted an uninhabited area near Juhr al-Dik in central Gaza.

PALESTINIAN MEDIA: Israeli occupation forces raided the city of Hebron and the Al-Arroub camp to its north overnight.

ANSARALLAH: The Ansarallah movement reported that a US airstrike targeted the command tower of the detained Israeli ship “Galaxy Leader” with two strikes.

ANSARALLAH: The Ansarallah movement announced that the death toll from US strikes on Yemen has risen to 53.

ISRAELI MEDIA: Israeli Channel 12 reported protests and road closures in Tel Aviv in response to the decision to dismiss Shinbet chief Ronen Bar.

Shin Bet Admits Failures in Preventing Oct 7 Attack, Blames Netanyahu’s Leadership

STATEMENT: Ronen Bar:

My dismissal is not related to the October 7 events; Netanyahu clarified that his decision is based on ongoing claims of a lack of trust.

The investigations into October 7 revealed that the government’s policies over the past year played a key role in the failure.

The investigation uncovered long-term, deliberate disregard from the political level for warnings from Shin Bet.

All responsible parties, including the Prime Minister, must be investigated, not just the military and Shin Bet.

Bar (Cited in Axios):

I informed Netanyahu that I have investigations to complete, in addition to securing the release of the remaining hostages, before resigning.

I told Netanyahu I need to propose internal candidates to succeed me and plan to complete these tasks before stepping down.

Shin Bet Admits Failures in Preventing Oct 7 Attack, Blames Netanyahu’s Leadership

PALESTINE CHRONICLE:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that he has decided to fire the current Shin Bet chief, Ronen Bar, while Israeli police have summoned the former Shin Bet head, Nadav Argaman, for questioning following a complaint filed by Netanyahu.

The Prime Minister’s office said that Netanyahu met with Bar and informed him that he would present the decision to the government. Israeli Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu had called Bar for an urgent meeting and would propose his dismissal to the government.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir welcomed the decision, stating, “This is what I have been calling for for a long time.”

Shin Bet Admits Failures in Preventing Oct 7 Attack, Blames Netanyahu’s Leadership

AL-JAZEERA (Citing British Minister for Middle East Affairs): The humanitarian situation in Gaza is critical, and only 10% of the population has access to clean drinking water. Israel’s blockade has hindered the delivery of aid to Gaza, and it must lift the restrictions to prevent further suffering.

Gaza Faces Catastrophic Water Crisis as Israel Tightens Siege

AL-MAYADEEN: Israeli airstrike targeting the area between Kounin and Aynata in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese Ministry of Health’s General Emergency Service reported two martyrs from the Israeli airstrike on a house between the towns of Kounin and Aynata.

PALESTINE CHRONICLE: Ansarallah leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi responded sharply to US airstrikes on Yemen, describing the attacks as part of a new American assault aimed at halting the group’s support for Palestinians. In his statement, Ansarallah accused Washington of attempting to stop their assistance to the Palestinian people amid Israel’s ongoing blockade and collective punishment in Gaza.

Al-Houthi also condemned Israel’s actions, accusing it of systematically starving and dehydrating the Palestinian population as part of a broader genocidal campaign. He noted that there had been no significant international efforts to ease the suffering of Gaza and that the US remained complicit in enforcing Israeli policies.

“America is a partner in the Israeli occupation, imposing its plans and fulfilling its desires,” al-Houthi said.

Ansarallah Responds to US Strikes, Targets American Aircraft Carrier

ISRAELI MEDIA: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has summoned Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar for an emergency meeting.

PALESTINIAN MEDIA: A Palestinian was reportedly killed in an Israeli drone strike on the Kuwait Roundabout south of Gaza City.

ISRAELI MEDIA: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that representatives of the Israeli negotiation team are currently participating in prisoner talks in Cairo, Egypt.

PALESTINE CHRONICLE:

Audio recordings of former Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi reveal that he acknowledged Hamas’s “deception” leading up to the October 7, 2023, attack, known as Al-Aqsa Flood Operation..

“I have no choice but to praise Hamas for the deception it practiced against us before October 7,” Halevi stated in recordings published by Israel’s Army Radio on Sunday.

“They used Hamas’ riots and focus on humanitarian issues to lull us into complacency and prepare for the attack, and they succeeded,” he added.

Leaked Audio: Halevi Admits Hamas ‘Deceived’ Israel on October 7

ISRAELI MEDIA:

Israeli security sources reported that residents of Avivim in Upper Galilee were instructed to stay indoors as the army continues its investigation.

According to the reports, it is likely that the shooting targeting a vehicle in Avivim originated from Maroun al-Ras in southern Lebanon.

A shooting attack targeting a vehicle reportedly took place in the town of Avivim, near the Israeli-Lebanese border.

According to Israeli security sources, the attack originated from Maroun al-Ras in southern Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/tNxccZ7Gsf

— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) March 16, 2025

PALESTINE CHRONICLE:

The Gaza Municipality has issued a stark warning about an impending water crisis that could lead to extreme thirst due to Israel’s continued blockade, restrictions on fuel imports, and threats to sever the primary water pipeline supplying the city.

In a statement, the municipality emphasized that the Mekorot pipeline supplies nearly 70% of Gaza’s water. Any disruption to this supply would have devastating consequences, endangering lives, worsening public health, and increasing the spread of disease.

Gaza Faces Catastrophic Water Crisis as Israel Tightens Siege

US MEDIA:

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that strikes are related to the Ansarallah’s ability to target global navigation and attack US naval forces.

Rubio said that the US will not allow the Ansarallah to control ship passage, and our strikes will continue until they lose their ability to attack.

ISRAELI MEDIA: The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation (KAN) reported that Eisenkot, Knesset members, and members of the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee have called for an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Knesset members stated they learned from relevant authorities that Hamas and Islamic Jihad have rebuilt their military capabilities.

PALESTINE CHRONICLE:

While the debate has long raged over what truly constitutes “free speech” online, deciding what should be banned or permitted, it was for some time accepted that the US’s First Amendment at least covered what was shared in the offline public sphere. The arrest of Mahmoud Khalil was a declaration from the Trump administration that no criticism of Israel will be tolerated.

Read the latest analysis by Robert Inlakesh.

Mahmoud Khalil and the End of Your First Amendment Rights

US NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR (to ABC): The Ansarallah possess attack drones that fly over the sea and ballistic missiles. They also have incredibly advanced air defenses and anti-ship cruise missiles. The US will hold not only the Ansarallah accountable but also Iran and its supporters. All options remain on the table in dealing with Iran, which must stop its support for the Ansarallah.

PALESTINIAN MEDIA: Israeli occupation forces raided a home on Nazareth Street in Jenin, West Bank.

STEVE WITKOFF (to CNN): Hamas’s proposal for a ceasefire is not a suitable starting point for negotiations. The response received from Hamas regarding extending the ceasefire in Gaza is entirely unacceptable. I encourage Hamas to be more rational than it has been.

PALESTINE CHRONICLE:

A Palestinian was killed on Sunday after an Israeli drone strike targeted a group of people in the town of Juhr al-Dik, located in central Gaza. This attack brings the total death toll from the ongoing Israeli assault to 48,572.

Medical sources confirmed that the victim succumbed to injuries sustained in the strike, though no additional casualties were reported.

Meanwhile, Israeli tanks heavily shelled the eastern areas of Abasan al-Kabira and al-Jadidah, near Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, according to eyewitnesses.

Israeli Drone Strike Kills Palestinian in Gaza as Death Toll Nears 50,000

WORLD FOOD PROGRAM: The World Food Programme confirmed that no food has entered the Gaza Strip since March 2, and all border crossings remain closed.

PALESTINE CHRONICLE:

A high-level Yemeni source warned on Sunday that the recent US-UK military strikes on Yemen, which targeted several cities across the country, could lead to a dramatic escalation in Yemen’s support for Gaza. 

The source, speaking to Al Mayadeen, emphasized that the attacks would not go unanswered and could trigger new phases of Yemeni support for Palestine.

The source reaffirmed Yemen’s stance in the ongoing conflict, stating, “Israeli-linked vessels will not pass through the designated naval zone” following the blockade announced by the Yemeni Armed Forces. 

US Strikes on Yemen Could Ignite Regional Escalation, Yemeni Officials Warn

ISREALI MEDIA: An Israeli military source told Channel 12 that Israel expects missile launches from Yemen but has not yet changed its home front instructions. The source added that Tel Aviv is closely monitoring developments in Yemen and considering the right timing for an Israeli strike.

HAARETZ: Israel’s war on Gaza has cost over 124 billion shekels as of the end of last year, according to the Israeli Ministry of Finance’s Accountant General. The report added that Israel spent around 100 billion shekels on the war last year alone.

UNRWA: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) stated that no aid has entered Gaza since March 2, when Israeli authorities announced a halt to humanitarian assistance. UNRWA also noted that the ongoing Israeli military operations in the West Bank have displaced over 35,000 Palestinians.

PALESTINE CHRONICLE:

Civil Defense teams continued efforts on Saturday to retrieve the bodies of 61 Palestinians buried in the grounds of Gaza’s al-Shifa Hospital during Israel’s months-long military assault on the enclave.

The Gaza Health Ministry said the exhumation process began on March 13, 2025, as teams worked to recover remains for proper burial, the Anadolu news agency reported.

Mass Graves Unearthed at Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital: 61 Bodies Recovered

ISRAELI MEDIA: Israel is concerned about an initiative led by the UN Human Rights Council to promote a new criminal investigation mechanism against Israel, the Israeli newspaper Maariv reported.

PALESTINE CHRONICLE:

Former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon has condemned Israeli officials’ plans to “thin” the population in Gaza, saying “these are not war goals” of a country he wants to live in.

“When Smotrich and Ben Gvir talk about thinning the population so that Gaza is free of Arabs and settling it with Jews – these are not war goals of a country I want to live in,” Ya’alon told the Israeli Hebrew Channel 13 in an interview on Saturday.

During the interview, Ya’alon also said he expected the Israeli government “not to send our soldiers to kill infants” in Gaza.

‘Killing Babies, Women Not a War Goal’ – Ya’alon Slams Israeli Plans for Gaza

PALESTINIAN MEDIA: Israeli occupation forces are forcing Palestinian families to evacuate their homes in the Qaqun and Abu al-Ful neighborhoods of Tulkarm camp in the occupied West Bank.

PALESTINIAN MEDIA: A Palestinian was killed after an Israeli drone targeted Palestinians in the town of Juhr al-Dik in central Gaza.

ISRAELI MEDIA: An Ansarallah rocket exploded last night in southern Sinai, Egypt, approximately 250 kilometers from Israel, according to Israeli Channel 12.

PALESTINIAN MEDIA: Dozens of Israeli settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in groups and conducted provocative tours in its courtyards.

PALESTINIAN RED CRESCENT: A young man was shot with live ammunition in the abdomen at the Qalandia checkpoint in northern occupied Jerusalem, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.

GAZA MUNICIPALITY: The Gaza Municipality has sounded the alarm after the occupation threatened to cut off the main water supply line, Mekorot, which provides 70% of the city’s daily water needs. The potential halt of energy sources threatens a paralysis of water, sanitation, and other services.

Gaza Municipality warns of a looming crisis as the occupation threatens to cut off Mekorot, the main water supply providing 70% of the city’s needs. A halt in energy sources could paralyze water, sanitation, and essential services. #Gaza #WaterCrisis pic.twitter.com/O1TmtjIeyw

— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) March 16, 2025

WASHINGTON POST: Seven aid workers and civilians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, according to a British charity.

PALESTINE CHRONICLE:

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has called for an immediate halt to the use of force against the Ansarallah in Yemen, emphasizing the need for political dialogue to prevent further bloodshed, the Russian news agency TASS reported, citing the foreign ministry.

According to TASS, Lavrov’s remarks came during a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who informed him on Saturday of Washington’s decision to launch a military operation in the Red Sea region.

Lavrov Calls for Halt to US Military Operations against Ansarallah in Yemen

IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY: Iran strongly condemned the US and UK airstrikes on Yemen, calling them a blatant violation of the UN Charter and international law. Iran also criticized the ongoing support for the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

Trump watching US airstrikes on Yemen live from the White House pic.twitter.com/rMufETTeli

— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) March 16, 2025

ISRAELI MEDIA: A poll by Israel Hayom found that 52.7% of Israelis support moving to the second phase of a prisoner exchange deal, while 68.8% believe the primary goal should be the return of all captives.

YEMENI HEALTH MINISTRY: The Yemeni Health Ministry reported that many wounded and missing remain under rubble following U.S. airstrikes, with 45% of the healthcare sector rendered non-operational due to years of aggression.

YEMENI MEDIA: The death toll from U.S. airstrikes on Yemen has risen to 31, with 101 injured.

Yemeni media: The death toll from US airstrikes on Yemen has risen to 31, with 101 injured. #Yemen #US pic.twitter.com/XlzwTWmYyn

— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) March 16, 2025

JERUSALEM ISLAMIC WAQF: Around 90,000 worshippers performed Isha and Taraweeh prayers on the 15th night of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.

PALESTINIAN MEDIA: Israeli tanks heavily fired towards eastern areas of Khan Younis and along the Salah al-Din axis in Rafah, southern Gaza.

AXIOS: The US provided Israel with prior notice of the strikes on Yemen, according to an Israeli official.

YEMENI MEDIA: The US launched nearly 40 airstrikes on Sanaa, Saada, and other Yemeni provinces, killing 24 and injuring 23.