On Thursday, the Civil Defense of the Gaza Strip announced the death of 22 people killed overnight by an Israeli strike on a neighborhood in Gaza City (north).
“We confirm that 22 martyrs were transferred (to hospitals) after a strike targeting (a) house (…) in Sheikh Radwan,” Mahmoud Bassal, spokesperson for the organization, told AFP.
Another strike that occurred around midnight (10 p.m. GMT) in the area of Beit Lahia and Jabalia (north) left dozens dead, according to medical sources.
“Collective punishment”: Israel’s operations in Gaza amount to “genocide” according to UN experts
“Total stop of the aggression”
The war in the Palestinian territory was launched in response to the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 in Israel, which resulted in the death of 1,206 people, mainly civilians, according to an AFP count based on official data. including hostages killed or died in captivity.
That day, 251 people were kidnapped. In total, 97 remain hostages in Gaza, including 34 declared dead by the army.
In retaliation, the Israeli army launched a massive bombing campaign followed by a ground offensive in Gaza, which left at least 43,985 dead, mostly civilians, according to data from the Hamas Ministry of Health, deemed reliable by the UN.
The United States, Israel’s ally, on Wednesday blocked the UN Security Council from calling for an “immediate, unconditional and permanent” ceasefire in Gaza, despite international calls for an end to the conflict which caused a disastrous humanitarian situation in the territory.
In Lebanon, Israel and Hezbollah entered into open war on September 23 after a year of cross-border fire, and the Israeli army has been carrying out incursions into the south of the country since September 30.
Palestinian journalists have paid a heavy price since October 7
Israel says it wants to distance Hezbollah from the border regions of southern Lebanon to allow the return of some 60,000 residents of northern Israel displaced by the movement’s fire. In Lebanon, tens of thousands of residents have also been displaced.
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.
In this context, envoy Amos Hochstein went to Beirut on Tuesday where he declared that a solution was “within reach” but that it was up to the belligerents to “decide”.
Israel “cannot impose its conditions on us”, warned Hezbollah leader Naïm Qassem on Wednesday in a pre-recorded speech, adding that he demanded “a total cessation of aggression” in Lebanon.
According to Israeli media, Mr. Hochstein landed in Israel on Wednesday evening and spoke with Ron Dermer, Minister of Strategic Affairs and confidant of the Israeli Prime Minister.
Mr. Netanyahu warned on Monday that Israel “will carry out military operations” against Hezbollah even in the event of a truce.
“Destructive war”
Meanwhile, Israeli bombings continue in Lebanon on Hezbollah strongholds.
The Lebanese National Information Agency (Ani) reported Thursday three strikes in Haret Hreik, a neighborhood in the southern suburbs of Beirut, “causing the destruction of several buildings.”
According to the same source, other strikes targeted several sectors of the south of the country during the night, notably the important town of Khiam, located approximately six kilometers from the border, where clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli forces had broken out the day before.
“We have reached new scales of destruction. It is worse than what happened in Palmyra”: Lebanon’s historical heritage under threat
On Thursday morning, the army’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, issued calls to evacuate residents of three areas near the southern city of Tyre.
“Our nation is suffering from a destructive and barbaric war waged by the Israeli enemy,” the commander-in-chief of the Lebanese army, General Joseph Aoun, said Thursday, on the eve of the 81st anniversary of the country’s independence.
“Efforts to achieve a ceasefire are intensifying,” assured the general.
Violence between Israel and Hezbollah has caused more than 3,550 deaths in Lebanon since October 2023, most since the start of the massive Israeli bombing campaign on September 23. On the Israeli side, 79 soldiers and 46 civilians were killed in 13 months.
