Here’s how things stand on Tuesday, January 9, 2024:

Latest updates and human impact

• Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said on Monday that Israel continues to withhold the Palestinian Authority’s tax funds, despite US intervention.
• Sigrid Kaag, the UN’s senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, will be based in Jordan. She was appointed to the new post in December after Israel refused visas to other UN staff.
• At least 23,084 Palestinians have been killed and 58,926 others injured in ongoing Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip since October 7, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said on Monday.
• An Israeli air strike killed a veteran Hezbollah commander, identified by Hezbollah as Wissam Tawil, in Kherbet Selem village, southern Lebanon, on Monday, raising fears of a regional conflict.
• Israeli forces bombarded the eastern part of Khan Younis and the central Gaza Strip amid ground clashes on Monday, residents said.
• Israel said four soldiers were killed in Gaza on Monday, bringing its total war losses there to 182.

Diplomacy

• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv late on Monday to brief Israeli officials on his two days of talks with Arab leaders on ending the war.
• He said he would press Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government “to do more to protect civilians and to do more to make sure that humanitarian assistance is getting into the hands of those who need it”.
• Speaking to reporters after meeting Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the oasis town of Al-Ula, Blinken said he still found support among Arab leaders for Israel’s goal of normalising relations.
• However, that will “require that the conflict end in Gaza” and “a practical pathway to a Palestinian state”.
• Egyptian sources have confirmed to the Al Araby Al Jadeed newspaper that an Israeli security delegation has arrived in Cairo with the aim of “resuming negotiations aimed at releasing Israeli prisoners held by resistance factions in Gaza”.
• US Vice President Kamala Harris reiterated the steadfast support of the US for Israel in a call with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.