Israel-Lebanon live: Israel’s deadliest strike on central Beirut kills 22 as UN decries ‘extermination’ of Gaza hospitals
It comes after Israeli airstrike on school housing displaced people in Gaza killed 28 and injured 54 others
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At least 22 people have been killed and over 100 wounded as Israel launched fresh airstrikes on central Beirut on Thursday evening, Lebanon’s health ministry said.
The first strike appeared to target an eight-story apartment block in Ras al-Nabaa, with witnesses reporting continued explosions within the building as a large emergency response rushed to the scene.
The second strike, in the area of Burj Abi Haidar, is reported to have collapsed an entire building, which was engulfed in flames.
It came as the UN’s peacekeeping force said two of its staff were injured after an Israeli tank shot at a watchtower in southern Lebanon, accusing Israeli of “deliberately” firing at the agency’s other positions in what would mark “a grave violation of international humanitarian law”.
And a separate UN inquiry found that Israel’s “relentless and deliberate attacks” on the health system in Gaza amounts to the crime against humanity of extermination, accusing Israeli forces of deliberately killing and torturing medical personnel, targeting medical vehicles and restricting permits for patients to leave the Gaza strip.
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At least 11 killed and 48 wounded in two Israeli strikes on central Beirut, officials say
At least 11 people have been killed and 48 wounded in Israeli airstrikes that hit two different areas in central Beirut this evening, Lebanon’s health ministry has said.
An Associated Press photographer who went to the scene of the strikes said the lower half of an eight-story apartment building in the first targeted area of Ras al-Nabaa appeared to have been hit, with explosions ongoing inside the building. A large number of ambulances arrived at the scene.
The second strike, in the area of Burj Abi Haidar, collapsed an entire building, which was engulfed in flames.
Two UN peacekeepers injured after Israeli tank shoots at watchtower
Two UN peacekeepers have sustained minor injuries after an Israeli tank opened fire on a UN watchtower on Wednesday.
The watchtower was in the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon’s (UNIFL) main base in Naqoura.
We reported earlier that Israeli fired at three different UN peacekeeper positions in southern Lebanon over a 24-hour period.
Israel has not yet commented.
Palestinian Red Crescent shares video of aftermath of huge Israeli strike
The Palestinian Red Crescent has shared a video on X showing the aftermath of a huge Israeli strike on a school in Gaza, which was serving as a shelter for displaced people.
The organisation reported 28 deaths and 54 injures. The death toll was later updated from that shown in the tweet.
In pictures: Turkish citizens flee Lebanon by ship
Gaza school strike killed 28 and injured 54, medics say
The death toll for the strike on a school in Gaza is now 28, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.
54 people were also injured in the strike, the organisation reported.
The Palestinian Red Crescent is a humanitarian organisation which serves as Palestine’s branch of the International Red Cross.
US and France leading ceasefire charge, Mikati says
Lebanese prime minister Najib Mikati says the United States and France are trying to revive a ceasefire deal for the Middle East.
“There are contacts taking place between the United States and France with the aim of reviving a ceasefire declaration for a specific period in order to resume the search for political solutions,” he is quoted as saying, according to Reuters.
Lebanese militant group Hezbollah yesterday supported calls for a ceasefire, and dropped a Gaza truce from their ceasefire conditions.
“We support the political efforts led by (Parliament Speaker Nabih) Berri under the banner of achieving a ceasefire. Once the ceasefire is firmly established and diplomacy can reach it, all other details will be discussed and decisions will be made collaboratively,” Deputy Secretery General Naim Qassem said.
But Israel’s invasion of Lebanon continues, and Netanyahu told the people of Hezbollah to throw out Hezbollah if they want to avoid the “destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza”.
Pictured: Site of Israeli strike which killed five health workers
As we reported earlier, five health workers were killed by Israeli strikes on the southern Lebanese town of Derdghaiya, according to Lebanese authorities.
Here are some pictures of the scene at the Civil Defence emergency centre.
Israel needs to address ‘catastrophic conditions’ in Gaza, US says
The US has called on Israel to urgently address the “catastrophic conditions” in Gaza and stop “intensifying suffering” by limiting the delivery of aid.
Speaking to the UN security council, US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said: “These catastrophic conditions were predicted months ago, and yet, have still not been addressed. That must change, and now.”
Ms Thomas-Greenfield added that there must be “no demographic or territorial change” in the Gaza strip, The Guardian reported.
Israeli tanks attacked northern Gaza with force this week, stating they were preventing Hamas from regrouping.
Five Lebanese health workers killed by Israeli strike, authorities say
Israeli strikes on the southern Lebanese town of Derdghaiya have killed five health workers, according to authorities.
The total number of health workers is now 115 since Israel began its bombardment and subsequent invasion last month, the BBC reports.
A makeshift emergency response centre in a church hall was hit by an Israeli strike, killing at least five, with more possible under the rubble.
The Lebanese government says such attacks violate the laws of war.
More than 42,000 Palestinians killed since October 7, Gaza health ministry says
More than 42,065 Palestinians have been killed and 97,886 injured in Israel’s bombardment and invasion of Gaza since October 7, when Hamas carried out attacks in souther Israel, Gaza’s health ministry said on Thursday.
On Thursday, 28 people were killed and 54 injured in a major airstrike on a school in Gaza, which Israel says was targeting Hamas militants.
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