Israel-Lebanon latest: 19 dead and thousands trapped as Israeli forces strike Jabalia refugee camps
An Israeli tank fired on UN headquarters in southern Lebanon on Thursday, the organisation said
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At least 19 people were killed by Israeli airstrikes in the Jabalia city and refugee camp in northern Gaza, the Hamas-run civil defence agency told the AFP news agency.
A spokesperson said that a strike occurred before 9:40pm local time and had left “12 dead, including women and children”, adding that 14 people were still missing and likely trapped under the rubble
In southern Lebanon, children are among eight people killed in villages as Israel intensifies airstrikes in its fight against militant groupHezbollah.
According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, a strike on Baysarieh, a village in Sidon province, killed three people, including a 2-year-old and a 16-year-old, while another strike in the Bekaa Valley killed five more people.
It comes as Israeli forces faced international condemnation for an attack on UN peacekeepers operating in the region.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) said an Israeli tank fired on its headquarters in the town of Naqoura in southern Lebanon on Thursday, hitting an observation tower and wounding two peacekeepers.
The force said its headquarters was affected by further explosions on Friday which injured two more peacekeepers.
“We were appalled to hear those reports and it is vital that peacekeepers and civilians are protected,” a No 10 spokesperson said.
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No food aid has entered Gaza in October, says UN food agency
The United Nations food agency said on Saturday that no food aid had entered northern Gaza since 1 October.
The World Food Program said that the primary border crossing into the war-ravaged area had been closed for about two weeks, warning that Israel’s ongoing ground operation has a disastrous impact on food security for thousands of Palestinians families there.
“The north is basically cut off and we’re not able to operate there,” said Antoine Renard, the WFP country director of Palestinian territories.
Concerns of a hunger crisis have risen in Gaza roughly a month after the U.N.’s independent investigator on the right to food accused Israel of carrying out a “starvation campaign” against Palestinians.
Israel has denied such allegations and insisted that it has allowed food and other aid into Gaza in significant quantities.
Irish PM tells Israel to ‘stop firing on UN peacekeepers’
Simon Harris, the Irish prime minister, has urged Israel to heed “the concerns of the international community” and “stop firing on UN peacekeepers”.
Israel said its forces fired at a threat near a United Nations position in Lebanon Friday, acknowledging that a “hit” was responsible for wounding two Blue Helmets.
The two Sri Lankan peacekeepers were injured at Unifil’s main base in Naqura, southern Lebanon, according to the mission. It followed two Indonesian soldiers suffering injuries when tank fire hit a watchtower the previous day.
Iranian official tours scene of Israeli airstrike in Beirut
The speaker of Iran’s parliament on Saturday toured the scene of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut that killed and wounded dozens, vowing that Tehran would keep supporting Lebanese and Palestinians in fighting against Israel.
Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf visited the bombed area after holding talks with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who said that Lebanon’s priority now was working toward a cease-fire.
His office said that Lebanon’s government still abides by a 2006 UN Security Council Resolution approved at the end of a 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah and was prepared to boost Lebanese army presence along the country’s border with Israel.
“We will keep standing with the Lebanese people during these difficult circumstances and also with the Palestinian people,” Qalibaf said during the tour, during which he was escorted by several Hezbollah officials.
Qalibaf added that Iran will aid the Lebanese people and “we hope that they will be victorious.”
‘At least 30 dead’ in Israeli strikes on Jabalia refugee camp
At least 30 people were killed in Israeli strikes throughout Friday in the Jabalia city and refugee camp, Gaza’s Hamas-run civil defence agency was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying.
The agency’s spokesman says that a strike had left “12 dead, including women and children” in the town, adding that 14 people were still missing and likely trapped under the rubble.
Israel issues evacuation order for 22 villages in Lebanon
The Israeli military has ordered residents of 22 southern Lebanese villages to evacuate to areas north of the Awali River, according to a statement released on Saturday.
It read: “To the residents of the following villages: Aita al-Shaab, Ramyeh, Yater, Qawzah, Beit Lif, Hanin, Rshaf, Ainta, Qlaila, Al-Hawsh, Nabaa, Tulin, Al-Tamriya, Al-Khiyam, Al-Kharba, Kfar Hamam, Arab Al-Luwaizeh, Abu Zebla Bridge, Jabal Al-Adas, Dahr Bariyeh Jaber, Kafra, Ramadiyeh, Zebqin. Hezbollah’s activity forces the IDF to take action against it.
“The IDF does not seek to harm you. For your own safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately.
“Anyone who is near Hezbollah elements, facilities or weapons is putting his life at risk. Residents, you are requested to leave your homes and move immediately to the north of the Awali River.
“To ensure your safety, you must evacuate without delay. Warning: You are prohibited from heading south, as any movement towards the south poses a danger to your life.”
Israeli army calls for evacuation of 'D5' area in Gaza City
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has called on Palestinians in the “D5” area in Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip to evacuate “immediately”.
Spokesperson Avichay Adraee said it is considered a “dangerous combat zone”.
In a post on X, he wrote: “The IDF is operating with great force against the terrorist organizations and will continue to do so for a long time. The designated area, including the shelters located there, is considered a dangerous combat zone.
“The area must be evacuated immediately via Salah El-Din Street to the humanitarian area.”
At least 42,175 Palestinians killed since 7 October last year
At least 42,175 Palestinians have been killed and 98,336 others injured in Israel’s military offensive on Gaza since 7 October, 2023, Gaza’s health ministry said on Saturday.
Thousands of people are trapped in Gaza’s Jabalia camp as Israeli forces attack the area, Medecins Sans Frontires (Doctors Without Borders) said on Friday, a week after Israel launched an offensive there which it says is aimed at stopping Hamas regrouping.
At least 20 Palestinians were killed and dozens more were wounded late on Friday by Israeli strikes in Jabalia, which also damaged four nearby homes, medics told Reuters. The death toll is likely to rise, they added.
Nine EU states call for immediate ceasefire in Middle East
Leaders of nine European Union member states in the Mediterranean on Friday called for an immediate ceasefire after a sharp escalation in conflict between Israel and forces of Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“Amid the backdrop of the conflict in Gaza in the broader region, we express our deep concern at the escalation of a military confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah,” a statement from EU leaders attending a summit, known as MED9, read after meeting in Cyprus.
At least 8 killed in airstrikes on southern Lebanon, health ministry says
At least eight people were killed in intensified airstrikes across villages in southern and eastern Lebanon on Friday evening, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
An Israeli airstrike on Baysarieh, a village in Sidon province, killed three people, including a 2-year-old and a 16-year-old, and injured three others, the health ministry said.
In Baalbeck-Hermel province, located in the Bekaa Valley, five more people were killed and five others wounded in additional airstrikes. On Thursday, 22 people were killed and 117 wounded in two Israeli strikes on two locations in central Beirut.
The strike caused the collapse of two residential buildings housing families and displaced individuals. Critical aid routes into northern Gaza have been cut off, United Nations officials say.
It’s time to get tough on Iran – and help the people overthrow their despotic leaders
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