A Region on Fire
Issue 58 - November 24, 2024
Routine Killing!
Getting used to killing is the goal of the repeated daily scenes in the Middle East, especially in Palestine and Lebanon these days. The daily routine starts with evacuation warnings, followed by an hour—or less—of waiting, then bombing, destruction, and death; and then, the same hellish cycle repeats. The victims in Palestine and Lebanon pay the price with their livelihoods, lives, and dreams. The world has become so accustomed to the scene that it hardly provokes reactions or protests anymore, except for rare instances, and even then, without any impact on the behavior or positions of the Israeli government, which faces no real material pressure. This is despite international arrest warrants or the UN and human rights organizations' support for Palestinian and Lebanese rights.
In Gaza, people think about how to get through the next day, with Israel tightening its control over the area. In Lebanon, the Israeli army continues to solidify its positions and advances on the ground, despite heavy resistance. They have made progress in the east, moving toward the town of Khiam, and in the west, towards Bayada. At the same time, after Hochstein's departure from Beirut, a wave of intense airstrikes, including assassinations, hit the heart of Beirut, its southern suburbs, and the Beqaa region. Despite this, the Speaker of the Parliament remains optimistic about signing an agreement with Israel before the end of the month! As for Hochstein, he left Israel for Washington once again, maintaining his silence.
Field Developments in Lebanon
A series of violent explosions shook the Lebanese capital, Beirut, early Saturday morning after an intense Israeli missile attack. The strike destroyed an 8-story residential building, resulting in 15 deaths and 23 injuries in the Basta area. The attack also damaged many surrounding buildings. Later in the day, Israeli media reported that the target of the airstrike in Basta was Mohammed Haidar, a Hezbollah operations official. However, Hezbollah MP Amin Sherri denied the presence of any party figures in the targeted buildings in Basta.
This is the fourth Israeli airstrike in recent days targeting central Beirut. An Israeli air raid last Sunday on the Ras Al-Nabaa neighborhood killed Hezbollah's media relations officer.
The Israeli Air Force also launched several airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs after issuing evacuation warnings. These strikes targeted and destroyed residential buildings.
In the Beqaa region, the Lebanese News Agency reported that an Israeli airstrike hit the home of Ali Allam, the director of Dar Al-Amal University Hospital, in the town of Douris, in the Baalbek district. The Lebanese Ministry of Health later confirmed that Allam was killed along with six of his hospital staff.
Israeli attacks continued on villages in the districts of Nabatiyeh, Tyre, and Bint Jbeil, with a series of heavy airstrikes. The Lebanese Ministry of Health announced two deaths and three injuries from an Israeli strike on the Tyre coast that targeted several fishermen. The Ministry also reported that the death toll had risen to 10, including four children, with 13 injuries from airstrikes on various villages and towns in the Beqaa. In addition, 17 were injured in Israeli attacks on Nabatiyeh, Marjayoun, and Kfarkila, while seven were killed and 26 wounded in strikes on Ain Baal, Baitouliya, and Tyre.
There were also reports of Israeli military attempts to advance and encircle the Naqoura area, between Shamaa and Bayada, amid fierce clashes with Hezbollah fighters trying to block their progress. In the eastern sector, intense battles were reported between Hezbollah fighters and advancing Israeli forces in the town of Khiam.
Hezbollah, in its statements, claimed responsibility for targeting Israeli army positions in several occupied Lebanese villages and northern Israel. They stated that their fighters are engaged in heavy battles with Israeli forces trying to penetrate deeper into Lebanese territory from multiple fronts. Hezbollah also announced that they continue to launch missile barrages into northern Israel.
Gaza: 120 Killed in 48 Hours
The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced that Israel has committed seven massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, with 120 deaths and 205 injuries reported at hospitals over the past 48 hours. The Ministry added that some victims remain trapped under the rubble and in the streets, inaccessible to ambulance and civil defense teams. Since October 7th, the total death toll from the Israeli assault has risen to 44,176, with 104,473 wounded.
The Government Media Office in Gaza reported that the number of journalist casualties has climbed to 189 since the beginning of the Israeli offensive, following the death of journalist Wael Abu Qafah.
Hamas announced the death of an Israeli captive due to the ongoing attacks in northern Gaza, warning that Israel should be prepared to handle the issue of missing bodies of some captives. In response, families of the Israeli captives urged the government to finalize a prisoner exchange deal, regardless of its terms, without linking it to President Trump's plans for Israel and the region, which should be addressed at a later time.
International Developments
Additional international responses to the International Criminal Court's (ICC) decision:
- Josep Borrell, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, stated that the ICC's decision regarding Netanyahu and Gallant is not political, and EU countries are obligated to enforce it as it is legally binding.
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan voiced his support for the ICC’s bold decision to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, urging immediate implementation.
- The President of Colombia told Al Jazeera, "We respect the ICC's decision. If Netanyahu and his Defense Minister visit Colombia, we will arrest them." He added that Israel's acts in Gaza are aimed at preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state.
- Egypt's Foreign Minister emphasized the need to respect the ICC’s decisions, as they come from international judicial institutions.
The U.S. Department of Defense announced that Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke today with his Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz. According to the Department's statement, Secretary Austin stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of Lebanese Armed Forces and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), reaffirming the U.S. commitment to diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Turkish President Erdoğan also stated that Turkey will continue its efforts to place Jerusalem under international security protection, respecting its unique status.
EU High Representative Josep Borrell reiterated that criticizing the Israeli government's policies is not equivalent to anti-Semitism, which he described as a serious issue that should not be used indiscriminately against anyone. He added that just as international decisions regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine were respected, so too should they be respected concerning the Middle East. Borrell also pointed out that the Israeli government has enforced the largest media blackout on what is happening in Gaza.
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