live U.S.-Iran standoff continues as Hormuz shipping and diplomacy remain uncertain
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to res...
Hamas on Tuesday (October 28) denied responsibility for an attack on Israeli forces in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which triggered renewed Israeli strikes across the enclave.
In a statement, the militant Palestinian group said it “had no involvement” in the reported incident and reaffirmed its commitment to the U.S.-brokered ceasefire that has largely held in recent weeks.
Earlier in the day, Israeli media outlets reported an exchange of fire between Israeli troops and Hamas fighters in Rafah, though the Israeli military has not commented on the reports.
The alleged clash came hours before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered “forceful attacks” on Gaza, accusing Hamas of violating the truce — a claim the group has strongly rejected.
Hamas said it continues to uphold the terms of the ceasefire and accused Israel of using the incident as a pretext to escalate military action.
The renewed tension in Rafah underscores the fragility of the ceasefire, which has been repeatedly tested by isolated exchanges of fire and accusations from both sides. International mediators, including the United States and Egypt, have urged restraint to prevent a return to full-scale hostilities.
The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
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