The UN Security Council must decide this Wednesday, November 20, 2024 on a new draft resolution calling for a ceasefire immediate, unconditional and permanent
in Gaza. But the veto of the United States, Israel's ally, is feared.
In Lebanon, Hezbollah claimed on Tuesday to have fired on Israeli soldiers who were evacuating victims, while the Lebanese army indicated that three of its soldiers were killed in an Israeli strike in the south of the country.
We take stock of recent developments in the situation in the Middle East.
In Lebanon, Hezbollah says it fired on Israeli soldiers who were evacuating victims
Hezbollah said it fired guided missiles twice Tuesday evening at Israeli forces as they tried to evacuate wounded soldiers in southern Lebanon, where the Israeli army is carrying out ground incursions.
In a detailed statement, the Lebanese pro-Iranian movement said it had injured Israeli soldiers in a first attack with a guided missile, in the border town of Markaba, before firing a second guided missile against a unit of Israeli infantrymen who came to remove the wounded
. Hezbollah claimed to have then targeted with another guided missile a third unit of infantrymen
who had come for attempt to recover the dead and injured
.
Three Lebanese soldiers killed in Israeli strike in south
The Lebanese army announced that three of its soldiers were killed Tuesday in an Israeli strike targeting their position in Sarafand in southern Lebanon, where Israel is fighting Hezbollah.
Israeli enemy targets military position in southern town of Sarafand, killing three soldiers
the army said on X. The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that eight other people were injured in this attack.
On Tuesday, Israeli strikes targeted the city of Tire and two localities in the south, as well as two villages in the Bekaa plain (east), according to the Lebanese Information Agency.
For its part, the Israeli army recorded around 40 projectiles fired during the day from Lebanon into Israeli territory.
Israel accuses Hezbollah of firing on two UNIFIL positions
The Israeli army on Tuesday accused the Lebanese Islamist movement Hezbollah of having fired during the day on two positions of the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in two separate episodes.
Hezbollah fired a number of rockets
and damaged a UNIFIL position in the Chamaa area in southern Lebanon around 1:30 p.m. (12:30 p.m. in Paris), the army said in a statement. At 9:50 a.m. (8:50 a.m. in Paris), a Hezbollah rocket had already fallen on another position of the Blue Helmets in the Ramia area, also in the south, she said.
Italy initially blamed the Israeli army for rocket fire on the headquarters of its contingent in Chamaa, before backtracking and blaming Hezbollah.
Solution to stop Israel-Hezbollah war 'within reach,' says US envoy to Lebanon
A solution to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon is within reach
declared Tuesday the special emissary of the American president, Amos Hochstein, who came to Beirut to negotiate on an American truce proposal.
The American ambassador to Beirut, Lisa Johnson, presented last Thursday to the Lebanese Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, and the head of Parliament, Nabih Berri, a 13-point plan providing for a 60-day truce and the deployment of the army in southern Lebanon.
Visiting Beirut on Tuesday, Amos Hochstein, Joe Biden's special envoy, reported a real opportunity to end this conflict
.
It is the parties who must decide
the end of hostilities, he said after meeting Nabih Berri, ally of Hezbollah and responsible for leading the negotiations. It's now within reach
added the envoy, who also spoke with Najib Mikati and General Joseph Aoun, commander-in-chief of the Lebanese army.
New uncertain vote on Gaza at the UN Security Council
The UN Security Council must decide this Wednesday, November 20 on a draft resolution calling for a ceasefire immediate, unconditional and permanent
in Gaza, a new attempt to put pressure on the parties to the conflict which risks being blocked by the United States, allies of Israel.
The latest version of the draft text prepared by the ten elected members of the Council, seen by Agence France Presse, demands an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire which must be respected by all parties
et the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages
.
A formulation which provoked Israel's anger in advance, and raised fears of a new American veto, according to diplomats.
We cannot let the UN tie the hands of the State of Israel in protecting its citizens and we will not stop the fight until we bring home all the kidnapped men and women
declared Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon, denouncing a text ashamed
.
In Gaza, Benjamin Netanyahu promises a bounty of $5 million per hostage released
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Tuesday from the shores of the Gaza Strip a reward of five million dollars offered to anyone who brings back a hostage held in Gaza.
Anyone who brings a hostage back to us will find with us a safe way for them and their family to get out.
of Gaza, the Israeli prime minister said in a video released by his office, in what Israelis call the Netzarim corridor.
We will also give a reward of five million dollars for each hostage
adds Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Netzarim corridor is a buffer zone set up by the Israeli army which cuts off the north of the Gaza Strip from the rest of the small Palestinian territory.
Five Palestinians killed in Israeli operations in occupied West Bank
Five Palestinians were killed Tuesday in Israeli operations in the Jenin sector, in the north of the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Authority announced, with the Israeli army confirming that it had killed three men.
During a nighttime operation to arrest a wanted man in Qabatiyah, near Jenin, three terrorists were killed in an exchange of fire
the Israeli army, border police and Shin Bet (internal security service) said in a joint statement.
In Jenin itself, two other people were killed by the Israeli army, according to the Palestinian Authority Health Ministry and the Red Crescent, which also reported nine injured by bullets or drone shots.
