Israeli defences stop Yemen-launched missile while Gaza death toll climbs to 40 in a day

On the 560th day of war, Israel’s military shot down a missile launched from Yemen, just as the Gaza Strip endured another deadly escalation, with at least 40 Palestinians reportedly killed since Thursday morning.

The Israel Defence Forces confirmed early Friday that its aerial defence systems intercepted the missile, part of an expanding threat from Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen. The interception occurred outside Israeli airspace, and no injuries or damage were reported.

Tensions are flaring on multiple fronts, with the fallout from last week’s direct Israel-Iran clash still unfolding. A senior Israeli official told Haaretz that opposition leader Yair Lapid urged a strike on Iranian oil fields back in October, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “was afraid and stopped it.” Meanwhile, The New York Times reported that Israel had planned strikes on Iranian nuclear sites as early as May 2024, but the move was delayed due to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s preference for diplomatic negotiations.

In Gaza, the humanitarian crisis continues to spiral. Medical officials say at least 40 people have died in Israeli strikes since Thursday, as operations intensify across the Strip. Aid remains largely cut off, and bodies continue to be pulled from rubble in Rafah, Khan Younis, and parts of northern Gaza.

The latest violence comes just days after the UN labelled Gaza’s current condition the worst since hostilities began 18 months ago. Israeli forces maintain that ongoing strikes target Hamas infrastructure, but civilian casualties remain high and fuel international condemnation.

In Russia, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian landed in Moscow for urgent talks on Iran-U.S. nuclear negotiations. His visit underscores growing international unease following Iran’s retaliatory missile barrage on Israel last week and the potential for a broader regional conflict.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, appeared in a separate high-profile meeting, welcoming Sasha Troufanov, an Israeli-Russian hostage recently freed in a Qatar-mediated deal. The Kremlin’s public display of diplomacy comes as Moscow attempts to increase its leverage in Middle Eastern power plays.

Back in Israel, domestic politics are heating up. A new report by defence analyst Amos Harel suggests that Netanyahu is leveraging a Shin Bet probe to fuel claims of a “deep state” conspiracy, targeting security officials and legal authorities. Critics accuse the Prime Minister of deflecting blame for military and diplomatic missteps, as pressure mounts over both Gaza policy and handling of Iran.

The war’s long reach continues to affect daily life inside Israel. Residents of Eilat and the Negev reported sirens and intercepted projectiles late Thursday, while Sderot saw renewed rocket fire from Gaza-based militants.

In Tel Aviv, protests reignited as bereaved families and peace activists demanded an immediate ceasefire and full-scale hostage deal. Many accuse the government of prolonging the war to deflect from mounting political scandals and deteriorating public trust.

With no diplomatic breakthrough in sight and the death toll mounting, observers warn that Israel’s multi-front security challenge — including Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, and Iran — could reach an unsustainable tipping point.