Bahrain suspends economic ties with Israel in protest over war in Gaza

MANAMA: The Bahraini parliament has announced that it has temporarily severed economic ties with Tel Aviv. A statement published on the Parliament website stated that the Bahraini ambassador to Israel had been recalled and the Israeli ambassador to Bahrain had returned from the country.

This decision by Bahrain is in protest against the military action taken by Israel against the people of Gaza in violation of international law. Bahrain has adopted a stance of supporting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. The Arab nation established official relations with Israel in 2020 as part of the Abraham Accords.

Meanwhile, nine Israeli soldiers were reportedly killed during clashes in Gaza yesterday, as the ground war entered its sixth day. With this, the number of soldiers killed since October 7 has increased to 326, the army said. Four soldiers were seriously injured. Among the Israeli soldiers killed was 20-year-old Indian-origin Hallel Solomon. Solomon, a staff-sergeant, is from the southern Israeli town of Dimona.

Nine soldiers from the Givati Brigade were killed when an armored military vehicle was hit by a Hamas anti-tank rocket attack in Gaza, Israeli media reported citing an Israeli military spokesman.