- Lebanon Experiences Casualties in Suspected Israeli Air Assault
Amidst ongoing talks for a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict, tragic deaths persist in the Middle East. As per reports, six individuals met their end in an airstrike on a domestic structure in southern Lebanon. Three individuals sustained injuries in this incident, allegedly conducted by Israel, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry and local security sources. Israel's armed forces have yet to comment on the situation.
The Gaza conflict, now entering its eleventh month, has seen near-daily attacks by Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia aligned with Hamas, towards northern Israel from Lebanon. In retaliation, Israel frequently targets regions within the neighboring country.
Iran's political leadership, backing Hamas and Hezbollah against Israel, remains skeptical about the Gaza ceasefire negotiations. Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani voiced this sentiment on the X platform, citing distrust in Israel. His view is informed by discussions with Qatari Minister President Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani regarding the negotiation's status.
Concerning the region, Bagheri Kani emphasized the necessity to halt Israel's military operations in Gaza.
Press Release: Initial Polio Case in Gaza
Gaza's unstable, coastal territory has reported its first polio case, as per Palestinian officials. An unvaccinated infant, just over ten months old, residing in Deir al-Balah in the area's center, became infected. Confirmatory tests were conducted in Amman's capital, Jordan.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres had previously urged a ceasefire in the isolated coastal strip, aiming to vaccinate tens of thousands of children against polio. The virus usually spreads through polluted water and lacks a cure.
Biden: Optimistic for Ceasefire
Even though mediators in Doha, Qatar, failed to reach a ceasefire agreement on Friday, according to a joint statement, the negotiations were deemed constructive. A proposal aimed to bridge the remaining "gap," which aligns with US President Joe Biden's peace plan proposal, has been proposed.
Another summit is scheduled in Cairo, Egypt, by the end of the following week. Negotiators will continue to bridge any remaining gaps until then.
Biden expressed hopefulness. "We're more advanced than ever," he said during a White House event's sideline. "We've progressed significantly since three days ago." US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Israel this weekend to continue "intense diplomatic efforts" on-site, a spokesperson for his ministry revealed. The purpose is to finalize the agreement. "No region's entities should undermine this process," Biden cautioned in a statement.
According to Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, a ceasefire might halt the region's further escalation. Since the killing of Hamas' foreign leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and a Hezbollah commander two weeks prior, both Iran and Hezbollah, primarily supported by Iran, have threatened revenge. An assault had been anticipated since then. A ceasefire in Gaza may deter both Iran and Hezbollah from launching a larger, potentially coordinated attack against Israel.
Biden spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi following the Doha negotiations round and in another phone conversation with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the White House announced. They are convinced that the ceasefire negotiations are nearing their conclusion, a US government official said. Meeting again next week in Cairo to "finally conclude this process" is their plan.
US Official: Negotiation Process Remains Complex
The official acknowledged the negotiation process as extremely challenging and complex. The agreed-upon deal includes aspects deemed "unpleasant," he explained, implying the release of a "large number" of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons in exchange for completely innocent hostages. Though the agreement is "imperfect," it aligns with the principles outlined by US President Biden and has full UN Security Council support.
Biden proposed a three-phase plan to end the Gaza conflict in May. During the first phase, a six-week ceasefire would transpire, involving the release of a specific group of hostages. In return, Palestinians imprisoned in Israel would be set free. Subsequently, their military operations would cease permanently, followed by the release of remaining hostages and the commencement of Gaza's reconstruction, largely devastated.
Hamas, alongside other terrorists from Gaza, launched attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, causing over 1,200 casualties and capturing an additional 250 hostages. This incident sparked the conflict. Based on the health authority controlled by Hamas, more than 40,000 individuals have perished in Gaza since then. This figure does not differentiate between civilians and combatants and cannot be authenticated.
The escalating tensions in the Middle East have also impacted the Palestinian territories, where a ceasefire is desperately needed. The United Nations has expressed concern over the worsening situation in Gaza, where the first polio case was reported recently, further complicating the region's challenges.
