Israel intensifies attacks in Gaza and southern Beirut.
An Israeli airstrike has struck a mosque in central Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 19 people as confirmed by Palestinian officials. In a separate incident, Israeli planes targeted areas in the southern suburbs of Beirut, hitting what the military claimed to be Hezbollah targets.
The strike in Gaza specifically hit a mosque where displaced individuals were taking shelter near the main hospital in Deir al-Balah. Tragically, another four people lost their lives in a strike on a school where displaced people were also seeking refuge in the same town.
The Israeli military stated that both strikes were aimed at militants, although evidence to support this claim was not provided. An Associated Press journalist present at the scene in Gaza counted the bodies at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital morgue, with records showing that those killed in the mosque strike were all men, with another man sustaining injuries.
In Beirut, the strikes targeted a building near a road leading to Lebanon’s only international airport, as well as a location formerly used by the Hezbollah-run broadcaster Al-Manar. Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have escalated with daily exchanges of fire across the Lebanon border since Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7, 2023.
As the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza reaches almost a year, the death toll in the territory has risen to nearly 42,000 Palestinians, with over half being women and children according to local health officials. In Lebanon, close to 2,000 people have lost their lives in the recent conflict, with the majority of casualties occurring since September 23.
Additionally, the southern suburbs of Beirut experienced more than 30 strikes overnight, marking the heaviest bombardment since September 23. The targets included a gas station on the highway to Beirut airport and a warehouse for medical supplies, further escalating the situation in the region.
French President Emmanuel Macron called for a halt to arms exports for Gaza, emphasizing the need to prevent further escalation. Macron’s comments drew criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, sparking a diplomatic exchange between the two leaders.
Meanwhile, an apparent Israeli airstrike in central Gaza claimed the lives of at least 18 people, adding to the mounting death toll in the area. The strike hit a mosque where displaced individuals were seeking shelter, further worsening the humanitarian crisis in the region.
The conflict in Lebanon also saw new explosions in the southern suburbs of Beirut, as Israel expanded its bombing in the country, including striking a Palestinian refugee camp in the north for the first time. Thousands of people in Lebanon, including Palestinian refugees, continue to flee the escalating violence, seeking safety amid the ongoing conflict.
As the situation in the Middle East remains volatile, with rising casualties and widespread destruction, calls for an immediate ceasefire and diplomatic solutions are being made by global leaders to bring an end to the bloodshed and restore peace in the region.