Escalating Disputes in the Middle Eastern Region - In the Israeli assault, at least 10 casualties reported among Hezbollah in Lebanon
Amid ongoing talks for a truce in the Gaza dispute with the goal of reaching a settlement within the week, combat between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia persists. In a recent Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon, at least ten individuals were reportedly killed, including a woman and two children, according to Lebanese officials.
The Israeli military asserted that they targeted a Hezbollah weapons storage facility in the Nabatiya region. Moreover, they claimed to have employed artillery fire to neutralize threats in various regions across southern Lebanon.
Lebanon: Death Toll Rises in Israeli Strike
Five additional individuals were injured during the incident in Nabatiya, as per Lebanese authorities. Two of the wounded were in critical condition. Most of the casualties were believed to be Syrian nationals, according to reports.
The Lebanese National News Agency reported in the morning that a factory building was struck in the attack, where a Syrian family was reportedly residing. Initially, it was reported that a residential building was attacked.
Since the onset of the Gaza conflict between Israel and Islamic Hamas more than ten months ago, the Hezbollah militia, allied with Hamas, has nearly daily launched attacks on targets in northern Israel from Lebanon. In response, the Israeli military has consistently attacked targets within the neighboring country.
First Case of Polio in Gaza Strip
Authorities in Palestinian territories reported the first instance of polio in the besieged coastal strip. A ten-month-old infant in Deir al-Balah, located in the center of the area, was detected to have the disease, according to the Ministry of Health in Ramallah. This was verified by tests conducted in Amman, Jordan's capital city.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres previously urged a ceasefire in the area to vaccinate tens of thousands of children against polio. The virus is often transmitted via contaminated water sources. There is currently no known cure for polio.
Biden's Call for Ceasefire
Despite talks in Doha, Qatar, failing to result in a truce last Friday, they were described as constructive. According to a joint statement, a potential solution exists that could bridge the remaining gap and aligns with the principles of the peace plan proposed by US President Joe Biden in May, which Hamas refuses to renegotiate.
Another high-level meeting is scheduled to take place in Cairo before the end of the coming week. Until then, the negotiators will continue to work on bridging the remaining gaps.
Biden stated his optimism, asserting, "We are closer than we have ever been." He continued, "We are much closer than we were three days ago." US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Israel this weekend to carry on "intensive diplomatic efforts" on the ground, as stated by his department. The goal is to finalize the agreement. "No one in the region should interfere with this process," Biden warned in a statement.
Reports suggested that a ceasefire could prevent further escalation in the region. Revenge attacks had been threatened by Iran and Hezbollah following the assassination of Hamas' foreign leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran, and the death of a Hezbollah military commander about two weeks prior. An attack was anticipated since then. Both Iran and Hezbollah, predominantly supported by Iran, might refrain from initiating a larger, potentially coordinated attack against Israel in the event of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Biden spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani following the negotiations in Doha and in another phone call, as per the White House announcement. They are confident that the process is nearing its conclusion, an US government source said. They plan to meet again in Cairo "with the intention of ultimately concluding this process."
Official: Negotiation Process Remains Challenging
The official noted that the process remains a daunting and complex task. certain elements in the proposed agreement are "unpleasant," as with any deal of this nature. He referenced the exchange of "a significant number of Palestinian prisoners" from Israeli prisons for completely innocent individuals captured as hostages. The agreement is "not perfect," but it reflects the principles outlined by US President Biden and endorsed by the UN Security Council.
Biden proposed a three-phase plan to end the Gaza conflict in May. During the first phase, a specific group of hostages would be released during a six-week ceasefire in exchange for Palestinian detainees in Israel. In subsequent phases, fighting would be permanently terminated, remaining hostages would be released, and the reconstruction of the heavily damaged Gaza Strip would commence.
Hamas and other militants from Gaza assaulted southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the death of over 1,200 people and the capture of another 250 individuals as hostages. This bloodshed sparked the conflict. According to data provided by the Hamas-controlled health authority, more than 40,000 people have reportedly perished in Gaza since then. This figure does not distinguish between civilians and combatants and cannot be authenticated.
The Israeli authorities stated that their airstrike in southern Lebanon aimed to target a Hezbollah weapons storage facility. The dispute between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, part of the ongoing talks for a truce in Gaza, continues despite the talks.
