► 43,603 dead in Gaza since the start of the war
The Health Ministry of the Hamas government in Gaza announced on Sunday a new death toll of 43,603 in the Palestinian territory since the start of the war with Israel more than a year ago.
At least 51 people have been killed in the past 24 hours, he said in a statement, adding that 102,929 people had been injured in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war, sparked by an unprecedented Hamas attack. against Israel on October 7, 2023.
► In Lebanon, an Israeli strike kills 20 north of Beirut
At least 20 people were killed on Sunday in an Israeli strike targeting a Shiite town located in a predominantly Christian region north of Beirut, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. “The Israeli enemy's raid targeting Aalmat in the Jbeil region left 20 dead, including three children, and six injured”according to a report revised upwards by the ministry, which added that searches in the rubble continued.
Earlier in the morning, an Israeli strike had already targeted a house in Baalbek, the main city in eastern Lebanon, state media reported, without a prior call from Israel to evacuate. “Enemy planes launched a strike on a house in the al-Lakkis neighborhood” of the city, indicated the National Information Agency (Ani).
Earlier, Ani reported an unusual Israeli strike north of Beirut, on the Shiite village of Aalmat, located in a predominantly Christian region. During the night and morning of Sunday, Israel carried out a series of airstrikes on villages and towns in southern and eastern Lebanon, where the Hezbollah movement is well established, Ani added.
On Saturday, Israeli strikes killed at least 20 people in the east and 13 in the south, including seven rescue workers affiliated with Hezbollah and its Shiite ally Amal, according to Health Ministry figures.
► Gaza: 30 dead in two Israeli strikes
The Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza announced on Sunday the deaths of 30 people, including 13 children, killed in two Israeli airstrikes on two separate houses in the Gaza Strip. A first strike made ” at least “ 25 dead, “including 13 children”in a family home in Jabalia, in northern Gaza, and “more than 30 injured” early in the morning, Civil Defense said.
Palestinian emergency services also reported another Israeli strike on a house in the al-Sabra neighborhood in Gaza City, which left five people dead and others missing. “A number of civilians are still under the rubble”they clarified.
► Qatar suspends its mediation between Israel and Hamas
Qatar confirmed on Saturday that it had suspended its mediation between Israel and Hamas with a view to a ceasefire agreement in Gaza associated with the release of hostages, until the belligerents demonstrate ” serious “ in the negotiations. Along with the United States and Egypt, Qatar had participated for months in mediation efforts to end the devastating war in the Gaza Strip, triggered on October 7, 2023 by an attack by Palestinian Hamas against Israel. In vain.
The only truce in this war saw the light of day at the end of November 2023. It lasted a week and allowed the release of hostages kidnapped during the October 7 attack and taken to Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. At the end of October, “during the last (negotiations) to try to reach an agreement, Qatar informed the parties that it intended to suspend its mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel if an agreement was not reached during this round”Qatar Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said in a statement.
