A Region on Fire
Issue 42 - November 7, 2024
Nothing lessens the impact of the war, as Israel's war machine keeps running relentlessly.
Israel continues to expand its longstanding record of international law violations and disregard for international resolutions. In a new, flagrant breach of global conventions and treaties, the Israeli Knesset has passed a laws permitting the prosecution and imprisonment of Palestinian children under 14, as well as the expulsion and deportation of Palestinian families if a family member is involved in militant activities. These measures institutionalize and legitimize violations of international law, with Israel's governing bodies, including the Knesset, embedding these policies into legislation. This process effectively turns the extreme right-wing government's policies into permanent, enforceable laws for the future.
Battlefield Developments in Lebanon
The Israeli army reported targeting over 110 "Hezbollah-linked" sites in Lebanon within 24 hours. Early Thursday, Israeli warplanes launched nine airstrikes on areas in southern Beirut, including one near Beirut International Airport in Ouzai. Before the strikes, many residents had already evacuated following Israeli warnings.
In another incident, five UN peacekeepers were lightly injured, while three Lebanese civilians were killed and three soldiers wounded when Israel targeted a vehicle at the Awali checkpoint in Sidon. Yedioth Ahronoth reported 20 Israeli airstrikes around Baalbek and north of the Litani River. Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported 60 fatalities in these areas. Israeli forces, including Divisions 91 and 36, continue offensive and defensive operations in southern Lebanon.
An Israeli drone attack on a car near Kahaleh, Aley, toward Beirut, killed a woman and injured a man inside.
Hezbollah responded with rocket attacks, hitting six bases and three military sites in northern and central Israel. Two of these bases were targeted with advanced missiles for the first time. Hezbollah also fired rockets at the city of Safed, nine settlements, and 11 Israeli military gatherings in northern Israel.
In southern Lebanon, Hezbollah launched rocket and drone attacks on two gatherings and four Israeli movements near Maroun al-Ras. Hezbollah advised settlers not to return to evacuated areas, saying these are now military targets. The group claimed it has blocked the Israeli army’s movement toward the Litani River and has increased missile and drone attacks, including on Tel Aviv.
Maariv reported that Hezbollah rockets destroyed eight buildings in the Avivim settlement. The Israeli military confirmed five soldiers killed and 16 injured in the clashes.
In the last 24 hours, Israel conducted 121 airstrikes on Lebanon. These included 56 on southern Beirut, 24 in Baalbek-Hermel, and 23 in the south, totaling 12,323 attacks since the conflict began.
The Ministry of Health reported 53 fatalities and 161 injuries in the past 24 hours, bringing the overall toll to 3,103 dead and 13,856 injured.
Political Developments in Lebanon
When asked why Trump received substantial support from Lebanese and Arabs in Michigan, Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Berri answered, "Because of Joe Biden's policy, which watched passively as children were killed in Gaza and Lebanon." When questioned about the Republican president's "promises," he commented, "Trump signed a written commitment to a cease-fire in Lebanon upon his victory, at Hassan Abbas's restaurant."
Prime Minister Najib Mikati met with Abdullah Al Dardari, the Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States at the UN Development Programme (UNDP). They discussed UNDP's ongoing projects in Lebanon and the support it is providing and will continue to provide to the Lebanese government. This support focuses on improving the management of aid distribution, strengthening the capacities of national and local institutions to handle displacement, and preparing for recovery, reconstruction, and rebuilding when the opportunity arises.
Prime Minister Mikati also signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Lebanese government and UNDP to enhance the coordination and efficient management of foreign aid.
Labour Minister Mustafa Bayram confirmed during a press conference held at the United Nations building in Geneva that Lebanon, as a founding state of the United Nations and a pioneer in respecting international laws and conventions, has resorted to the International Labor Organization in Geneva to file a complaint against the Israeli war crime that targeted hundreds of Lebanese civilians, who were killed or wounded, especially employers and workers in their workplaces, in connection with the jurisdiction of the international organization and the Ministry of Labor, in light of the bombing of pagers and wireless devices. He stressed the call for a ceasefire and an end to the war of extermination that has been ongoing for more than a year, and demanded the implementation of the resolutionز
More than 100 Lebanese lawmakers appealed to the United Nations on Thursday to ensure the preservation of heritage sites in areas heavily bombed by Israel.
The MPs stated in a letter signed by the majority of the parliamentary blocs and addressed to UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay: "As parliamentarians, we bring to your attention an urgent need: the protection of Lebanon’s historic sites in Baalbek, Tyre, Sidon and other invaluable landmarks currently at risk due to the escalation of the atrocities". They also warned in their letter that "the destruction of these monuments if it happens, will not only be a loss for Lebanon, but a tragic blow to world heritage."
Lebanon is home to six UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Roman ruins in Baalbek and Tyre.
A few days ago, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, warned of the danger posed by the war on archaeological sites, especially in the two cities. She wrote on the X platform: "Ancient Phoenician cities with deep history are facing a serious risk that could lead to their destruction."
Israeli launched a series of raids on the city of Baalbek and its surroundings in eastern Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of at least 40 people, most of them in the city.
The governor of the region, Bashir Khodr, reported on the X platform that the raid was "the closest to Baalbek Castle," noting that "a missile fell inside the parking lot" of the archaeological site.
The mayor of Baalbek, Mustafa al-Shal, told France Presse on Thursday that the raids targeted the historic Manshiyya building, which is located in the middle of Baalbek Ruins and the famous Palmyra Hotel, which was damaged.
In Tyre, Israeli airstrikes targeted sites near ancient Roman ruins.
Lebanese Minister of Transport and Public Works Ali Hamieh: Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut is operating normally.
Humanitarian Response in Lebanon
Minister Nasser Yassin said the government is addressing the displacement crisis by providing support and focusing on shelter centers and by implementing in cooperation with the governors in the areas hosting displaced persons and with the municipalities and local structures. The Ministry of Social Affairs has established a mechanism to monitor the distribution in the areas to ensure that the aid reaches those who deserve it. He warned that Lebanon's economy is shrinking and emphasized the need to plan for reconstruction now.
The Ministry of Health announced that Al-Mahaba Hospital in Deir El-Ahmar will become an approved hospital in 2025, offering care to displaced people from Baalbek and Hermel.
A total of 1,145 shelters are open for displaced people, with 981 at full capacity.
There are 190,740 registered displaced people, mostly in Mount Lebanon and Beirut, though the actual number is likely higher.
From September 23 to November 7, 2024, 369,055 Syrians and 192,739 Lebanese returned to Syria.
Aid flights from Qatar, Kuwait, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Libya, and the UAE have arrived in Beirut.
Gaza and the West Bank
On day 398 of the Israeli attack on Gaza, Israel continues to bomb different areas, killing and injuring many. The blockade on northern West Bank cities, including Jenin, Tubas, and Tulkarem, has been tightened, and the army raided the village of Al-Tabaqa south of Hebron.
The Gaza Ministry of Health reported 43,469 Palestinians martyred and 102,561 injured since the attack began on October 7, 2023.
Israel has besieged northern Gaza for 34 days, with constant bombardment. They are preventing civil defense teams from recovering bodies. Civil defense in northern Gaza has been unable to operate for 16 days due to ongoing Israeli attacks, leaving thousands without medical care.
In the West Bank, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported one death and five injuries during a raid on the Tulkarem refugee camp, followed by drone strikes.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said living conditions in Gaza are deadly, with civilians dying from hunger as the world watches.
International Developments
During French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot's visit to Jerusalem, a diplomatic incident occurred with Israel. Israeli police entered a French-managed church site without permission and briefly detained French officials. Barrot called this "unacceptable" and refused to enter the site in protest. France will summon the Israeli ambassador to Paris soon.
Israeli media reported that the U.S. has sent F-15 fighter jets to the Middle East in case of an Iranian attack.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, praised Hezbollah for its resistance to Israel over 40 years, making it a stronger force in the region.
The Financial Times, citing an informed source, reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has no plans to undertake significant actions in Lebanon or Gaza until Donald Trump’s inauguration as U.S. president.
Russian President Putin suggested that as global power dynamics shift, countries are more attuned to their self-worth and more determined to act independently.
UNESCO will hold a meeting on November 18 to discuss protecting Lebanese heritage sites from Israeli bombings.
Turkish President Erdogan said recognizing Palestine is crucial and that the Middle East crisis is much worse than the war in Ukraine.
Displacement Crisis Reaches 123 Million Amid Ongoing Conflicts
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees called for "urgent international help" as the number of displaced people worldwide hit 123 million. Ongoing conflicts in Lebanon, Sudan, and other areas are causing more displacement. Grandi spoke at the UN, highlighting the "devastating" situation in Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes have killed many civilians and damaged vital infrastructure like schools, hospitals, and roads. He said, "The humanitarian crisis is overwhelming and needs immediate international aid," and mentioned that 470,000 people have crossed into Syria recently. In Sudan, the situation is also dire, with over 11 million displaced in the past 18 months. Grandi added, "The conditions in Sudan are horrifying – violence, sexual abuse, famine, floods, and disease. The country's social infrastructure is collapsing."
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