Middle East live: Lebanon PM says ceasefire talks have ‘intensified’ as Biden and Netanyahu discuss Iran
US President Joe Biden and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu discussed a response to the Iranian missile attack over the phone
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Ceasefire efforts led by the US and France have “intensified”, the prime minister of Lebanon said on Thursday morning.
“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,” Najib Mikati said according to Reuters.
It comes one day after Hezbollah deputy secretery general Naim Qassem said the group will “support the political efforts led by (Parliament Speaker Nabih) Berri under the banner of achieving a ceasefire”.
But Israel’s invasion and bombardment continues, with the Israeli military today saying it killed two more Hezbollah commanders in southern Lebanon.
The strikes took place as US president Joe Biden and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu discussed a potential Israeli response to Iran’s missile attack in a 30-minute phone call.
The “direct and very productive” conversation yesterday came after the Israeli defence minister, Yoav Gallant, reiterated to his country’s media plans for a “deadly, precise and above all surprising” strike against Iran.
Iran launched a missile attack last week following an escalation of Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon, which have killed more than 2,000 people.
Breaking: At least 16 killed in Israeli airstrike on Gaza school, medics say
An Israeli strike has killed at least 16 people in a Gaza school which was being used to shelter displaced people on the Gaza strip, medics say.
Dozens were also injured in the strike on Rufaida School in western Deir Al-Balah, according to Reuters.
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 milotant 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".
Diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire have intensified, Lebanese PM says
Lebanon’s prime minister, Najib Mikati, says diplomatic communications towards a ceasefire have intensified ahead of the UN Security Council meeting, Reuters reported.
We’ll bring you the latest on Mikati’s claims as it comes.
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.
One Israeli soldier killed in southern Lebanon, says military
The Israeli military said one of their reserve soldiers was killed during fighting with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
Sgt Maj Ronny Ganizate of the Alon Brigade’s 5030th Battalion is the 12th Israeli soldier killed in the ground invasion in Lebanon.
Another reserve soldier from the same battalion was critically wounded in the fighting and rushed to a hospital, the Israel Defense Forces said.
One Palestinian journalist killed as Israel ‘directs gunfire’ at reporters in Gaza
At least one journalist was killed in northern Gaza as the Israeli army was accused of attacking a group of reporters in Jabalia refugee camp.
Al-Aqsa TV photojournalist Mohammad Al-Tanani was killed and reporter Tamer Lubbad was injured in the Abu Sharakh roundabout area of Jabalia, the network said yesterday.
Qatar-based Al Jazeera said its photojournalist Fadi Al-Wahidi was also injured by Israeli army gunfire while reporting on the latest ground invasion.
The “gunfire was directed at the Al Jazeera team, injuring its photojournalist Fadi Al-Wahidi with a bullet to the neck during coverage,” said Anas Al-Sharif, an Al Jazeera correspondent.
Israel says it killed two more Hezbollah commanders
The Israeli military said it has killed two Hezbollah commanders in southern Lebanon and its fighter jets attacked ammunition depots in the Beirut area and ammunition depots and other military infrastructures in southern Lebanon
.Ground clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, which is also backed by Iran, spread along southern Lebanon’s mountainous frontier yesterday as the Middle East was on high alert awaiting Israel’s response to an Iranian missile strike last week.
Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon has killed more than 2,100 people, most of them in the last few weeks, and forced 1.2 million from their homes, according to the Lebanese government.
Naim Kassem: The former teacher now leading Hezbollah
Naim Kassem: The former teacher now leading Hezbollah
Kassem is widely seen as lacking Hassan Nasrallah’s charisma and oratory skills
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