A Region on Fire
Issue 47 - November 12, 2024
The message is clear
President-elect Donald Trump appointed Elise Stefanik as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. This choice is meant to strengthen U.S. positions globally, with a focus on strong support for Israel and challenging the UN and groups seen as anti-Israel.
In her first tweet after accepting the position, Stefanik said, " The work ahead is immense as we see antisemitism skyrocketing". She made headlines with questioning of three university presidents about anti-Semitism on campuses, which led to the resignation of two of them.
She has called for a full review of U.S. funding to the UN, in response to the Palestinian Authority’s efforts to condemn Israel internationally for human rights abuses and war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank.
Yesterday, she backed efforts to stop funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), arguing that the agency collaborates with the Palestinian group Hamas.
Gaza
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that access to northern Gaza remains very limited. OCHA expressed concern about the Palestinians still there, as the Israeli blockade continues. OCHA called on Israel to urgently open a humanitarian corridor due to the population's immense needs. Since September 25, the Israeli military has blocked humanitarian aid to northern Gaza and halted goods on October 1, followed by a large military assault on Jabalia and Beit Lahia. This has cut off northern Gaza from the rest of the territory. Over the past month, humanitarian agencies submitted 50 access requests to Israel; 33 were denied, and 8 approved requests were later blocked.
The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) says aid to Gaza is not enough to meet the “catastrophic” needs there. UNRWA reports aid is at its lowest in months, with an October daily average of only 37 trucks entering Gaza, far too little for 2.2 million people.
The Palestinian Ministry of Education in Ramallah reported today that Israel has killed over 12,000 students and wounded 19,000 others in Gaza and the West Bank since the offensive began on October 7, 2023. Since then, 11,249 Gaza school students have been killed, and 17,335 injured. In the West Bank, 80 school students were killed, 479 injured, and 237 detained. The ministry also reports that 697 university students in Gaza and 35 in the West Bank were killed, with thousands more injured or detained. The conflict prevents 88,000 university students and 700,000 school students in Gaza from attending classes.
Ministry data shows that 444 Gaza school staff were killed, with 2,491 injured. Additionally, 117 university staff were killed, and 1,221 injured.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza reports that the Israeli offensive has led to 43,665 deaths and 103,076 injuries since the start of the war.
Incursions at Al-Aqsa
Dozens of Israeli settlers entered Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards in occupied Jerusalem on Tuesday, with protection from Israeli police.
Jerusalem’s governor said, “The Moroccan Gate was closed to prevent morning and evening settler incursions, but 273 settlers entered Al-Aqsa.”
The Palestinian News Agency reported that Israeli Knesset member Yitzhak Kreuz introduced a bill to limit the activities of the Palestinian Authority, the PLO, and the Fatah movement in East Jerusalem and surrounding towns and camps.
Sudan
On Tuesday, the UN Security Council held a high-level briefing on the worsening crisis in Sudan, where escalating violence has led to more civilian casualties and widespread human rights abuses. The Council is discussing a UK-drafted resolution urging warring parties in Sudan to stop hostilities and allow safe, fast, and unhindered aid delivery across conflict lines and borders.
Sudan’s representative at the Security Council called for international support for legitimacy, a non-political approach to the Sudanese crisis, and training for Sudanese police in areas affected by Rapid Support Forces (RSF) violations. He urged the reactivation of the Darfur civilian protection committee, creation of a mechanism to monitor RSF violations, and a halt to foreign arms supplies to the RSF militia.
In her briefing to the Security Council, Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo described recent RSF attacks in East Gezira as “among the worst and most extreme violence” in the last 18 months. She stressed that the people of Sudan need an immediate ceasefire and urged warring parties to begin negotiations.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) highlighted Sudan’s severe humanitarian suffering amid relentless violence, with no signs of peace. The crisis, it warned, may escalate further. Women and girls face heightened risks of gender-based violence, sexual abuse, exploitation, and displacement. Since April last year, more than 11 million people have been displaced, with nearly 3 million fleeing to neighboring countries. Over 750,000 people face extreme hunger, affecting millions across Sudan.
This briefing comes amid rising international pressure to address Sudan's humanitarian catastrophe. The UN reports nearly 25 million people—half of Sudan’s population—require aid, with famine spreading in displacement camps. Around 11 million have fled their homes, including nearly 3 million who have left for other countries.
Sudanese civil society groups have issued urgent calls to increase civilian protection, create safe zones, and expand the existing arms embargo to cover the entire country.
Battlefield Developments in Lebanon
Israeli warplanes launched heavy airstrikes on over 40 towns in Lebanon, including the southern suburbs of Beirut, after a 5-day relative calm. These strikes followed 11 evacuation warnings issued by Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee. The airstrikes caused massive destruction around Beirut International Airport and the Lebanese University. A medical center not included in the evacuation maps was also destroyed.
The strikes targeted areas like Baalchmiah in Aley, resulting in 5 martyrs and several injured, according to the Ministry of Health. Other areas hit include Tyre, Nabatieh, and parts of the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon. Later, Israel issued new evacuation orders for 14 villages, asking residents to move north of the Awali River. Israeli airstrikes also hit Bent Jbeil and Tyre in the evening.
Israeli Channel 14 reported that the Israeli army expanded its operations in southern Lebanon to areas it had not reached since the start of the ground operation.
Hezbollah continued to fire rockets at Israeli northern settlements and announced clashes with an Israeli force trying to advance from the Dahira area toward Wadi Al-Bateeshia and Wadi Hamoul in southern Lebanon. The Israeli army stated that helicopters were chasing drones detected in the airspace over Acre, coming from Lebanon. Yedioth Ahronoth reported a drone explosion near a commercial center east of Haifa.
The Israeli Home Front Command activated sirens in Kiryat Shmona and surrounding areas, as well as in western Galilee and the northern coast.
According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, the number of martyrs has risen to 3,287, and the injured to 14,222 since the start of the Israeli aggression.
Political Developments in Lebanon
Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri told Al-Joumhouria newspaper that any solution at the expense of Lebanon's sovereignty is unacceptable. He emphasized that his position is clear: a ceasefire and the implementation of Resolution 1701. He said that France proposed an initiative, which was supported by the U.S. and signed by many countries. It was launched as a call to end the war, and all responded except Israel, which rejected it, ending the initiative with no return. He confirmed that what is needed now is a ceasefire and the full implementation of Resolution 1701, with no additions or omissions, as agreed upon with U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati stated that the priority is to pressure Israel to stop its aggression on Lebanon and achieve a full ceasefire with the complete implementation of Resolution 1701.
Former Minister Walid Jumblatt, in an interview with Al-Akhbar newspaper, said the war is long and questioned who claimed the war would stop. He added that aside from some rumors about negotiations, he had not heard anything serious. He called on the U.S., which claims to support international resolutions, to enforce a ceasefire, prevent attacks on international forces, and properly arm the Lebanese army.
Humanitarian Response in Lebanon
Minister of Environment and Emergency Committee Coordinator, Nasser Yassin, announced that the committee is planning for the upcoming months. He stated that the needs are vast, and the assistance is only covering those in shelters, who represent 20% of the displaced population.
A meeting was held at the Grand Serail to follow up on the outcomes of the Paris Conference on supporting Lebanon, which took place on October 24, 2024. During the meeting, the commitments made by countries at the conference were presented, totaling approximately $1 billion. Of this, $775 million is for humanitarian needs, and $204 million is to support the army and security forces. So far, $108 million has been received in grants from donors to cover part of the joint emergency appeal.
To promote transparency, discussions were held about cooperation between the government's Emergency Committee and the UN. They plan to create a platform to track the distribution of financial and humanitarian aid, from source to beneficiary, with full access to all data.
Egyptian Foreign Minister, Badr Abdel Aty, announced that he would visit Lebanon on Wednesday aboard a plane carrying humanitarian aid.
International Developments:
Hamas called on the UN Security Council to force Israel to stop its attacks on Gaza and Lebanon. It also emphasized the need for more efforts to end the violence, lift the siege, and provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians. The summit urged immediate action to freeze Israel's participation in the UN and ban arms exports to it. Hamas stressed that the Palestinian people are waiting for Arab and Muslim countries to act and support them.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the international community to take responsibility and stop Israel's illegal actions.
The Turkish president stated that Israeli officials responsible for the humanitarian and environmental disaster in Gaza should be held accountable in international courts.
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Israeli Minister Smotrich's statements on annexing the West Bank, calling them a clear rejection of peace in the region.
Iraq's National Security Adviser confirmed that Iraq rejected the use of its land and airspace.
The GCC Secretary-General condemned Israeli Finance Minister's extremist statements, calling them a clear violation of international law and UN Security Council resolutions.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that there would be no ceasefire or break in attacks against Hezbollah, and that Israel would not accept any arrangement that does not guarantee its right to combat terrorism.
Israeli politician Avigdor Lieberman suggested responding to Hezbollah's desire to destroy Israel not through political negotiation but by occupying Lebanese territory.
Israeli Channel 12 reported that Thailand issued a warning about the possibility of attacks on Israelis within its borders.
The Israeli army announced it had expanded its ground operation in southern Lebanon, with the 36th division entering new areas.
Haaretz newspaper reported that the Israeli army is struggling to justify the scale of killings in Gaza.
Israeli reporter from Yedioth Ahronoth mentioned that around 70,000 Israelis were instructed to seek shelter following warnings of drone infiltrations from Lebanon.
