MIGUEL ALMAGUER, NBC NEWS. >>> IN THE MIDDLE EAST TONIGHT A GROWING CRISIS IN THE RED SEA. OIL PRICES ARE RISING AS AN IRANIAN-BACKED MILITIA IS VOWING TO KEEP ATTACKING SHIPS THERE ALL AS CHILLING NEW VIDEO OF HOSTAGES HELD IN GAZA IS RELEASED. HERE'S RICHARD ENGEL. >> Reporter: THE CAR GOING GIANT MEARS JOINED BP IN HALTING TRAFFIC THROUGH THE RED SEA IN RESPONSE TO ATTACKS BY THE IRANIAN YEMENI MILITIA KNOWN AS THE HOUTHIS WHO FIRED ON SEVERAL SHIPS. LLOYD AUSTIN IN BAHRAIN TODAY HOME OF THE U.S. FIFTH FLEET ANNOUNCED THE FORMATION OF A TEN-NATION COALITION TO DEFEND THE RED SEA, BUT THE HOUTHIS VOW TO KEEP ATTACKING SHIPS UNTIL ISRAEL ENDS ITS BLOCKADE OF GAZA. THE SHOWDOWN SENDING OIL PRICES UP AGAIN TODAY. WHILE THE PALESTINIAN ISLAMIC JIHAD TONIGHT PUT OUT A VIDEO OF TWO ISRAELI MEN IT'S HOLDING HOSTAGE, YESTERDAY HAMAS RELEASED A VIDEO OF THREE ELDERLY HOSTAGES TAKEN UNDER DURESS. THE MAN ON THE RIGHT IS 83-YEAR-OLD YORAM METZGER. HIS SON GUY TOLD US HE TAKES COMFORT IN KNOWING HIS FATHER IS ALIVE BUT WORRIES ABOUT HIS TREATMENT BY HAMAS. >> HE LOOKS VERY, VERY TIRED. HE LOOKS VERY SICK. ALSO, HIS FRIENDS. WE ARE REALLY, REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THEIR CONDITION. >> Reporter: HE SAYS THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO MORE TO GET A DEAL TO FREE THE HOSTAGES. >> YOU DON'T HAVE CONFIDENCE IN PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU'S EFFORTS? >> DO YOU THINK I SHOULD HAVE CONFIDENCE IN PRESIDENT NETANYAHU AFTER WHAT'S HAPPENED ON THE 7th OF OCTOBER? >> Reporter: THE GAZA STRIP IS AT A BREAKING POINT AS ISRAEL ATTACKS HAMAS, AID GROUPS SAY 2.3 MILLION PALESTINIANS ARE PAYING AN UNBEARABLE PRICE. MAHMOUD WAS IN A HOSPITAL TODAY IN RAFAH INJURED BY AN ISRAELI STRIKE. WHEN DOCTORS BROUGHT HIM THE BODIES OF HIS SON AND 2-WEEK-OLD DAUGHTER. THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION TODAY DESCRIBED THE SITUATION IN GAZA'S HOSPITAL AS BEYOND BELIEF AND UNCONSCIONABLE. >> RICHARD, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHERE THE CEASE-FIRE TALKS STAND RIGHT NOW? >> THEY ARE FRAGILE, LESTER, BUT ADVANCING WITH