Israeli bombings in the Baalbeck region in eastern Lebanon left 19 people dead. The Israeli army had earlier declared that it had targeted Hezbollah infrastructure.
The Jewish state revolted on Wednesday the day after a UN expert's report denouncing “the genocide of the Palestinian population”. Israel criticizes “representation of the world filled with hatred”.
We take stock of recent developments in the conflict.
Read also: Lebanon: Prime Minister hopes for a ceasefire “in the hours or days to come”
19 dead in Israeli strikes in Lebanon
The Lebanese Health Ministry announced that at least 19 people were killed Wednesday by Israeli strikes on two areas in the Baalbeck region in the east of the country.
Eight people, including five women, were killed in the Bednayel area of Baalbeck, and eleven others, including three women, died in separate Israeli strikes on a village in the same region, the ministry detailed.
The Israeli army announced that it had targeted Hezbollah “command centers and infrastructure” during strikes carried out during the day on the towns of Baalbeck, in eastern Lebanon, and Nabatiyeh in the south of the country. “Hezbollah systematically uses civilian infrastructure and regions across Lebanon to prepare and carry out terrorist activities, deliberately endangering the lives of Lebanese civilians,” she said in a press release.
Israel denounces the “hatred” of a UN expert
Israel on Wednesday demanded the resignation of an independent UN expert, Francesca Albanese, who denounces “the eradication of the Palestinians” of their lands by “genocide”. “According to its hate-filled representation of the world, the State of Israel has no historical reason to exist, no right to defend its population, and the October 7 attack and the rescue of the hostages are just one excuse used by Israel”, wrote the Israeli embassy to the UN in Geneva, the day after a new report by the special rapporteur on the human rights situation in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.
According to the Italian lawyer, mandated by the Human Rights Council but who does not speak on behalf of the UN, “the genocide of the Palestinian population appears to be the means to an end: the complete expulsion or eradication of Palestinians from the land to which such an essential part of their identity is attached and which is illegally and openly coveted by Israel “. She repeated Wednesday before a committee of the United Nations General Assembly that developments in recent months “consolidates (its) assessment that Israel is waging a campaign of genocide against the Palestinians.”
Israel is not alone in criticizing Francesca Albanese. This week on the social network X, the American ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield judged the expert “unfit for his role”. “The United Nations should not tolerate anti-Semitism from a UN-affiliated official committed to promoting human rights,” she added.
Euronaval Show: Israel welcomes the decision of the French courts
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday welcomed the “important decision” of French justice to authorize Israeli companies to participate in the Euronaval defense exhibition organized next week near Paris.
“This is an important victory for justice and a clear message against attempts to weaken Israel in its fight against the forces of evil,” the minister said on X, after the Paris commercial court invalidated the organizers' decision to prohibit certain Israeli companies from taking part in this show.
