Strike on northern Lebanese village
At least 21 people have been killed and eight injured in an Israeli airstrike in the northern Lebanese village of Aitou. The village is in the Christian majority district of Zgharta.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to take whatever measures necessary to defeat Hezbollah.
“We will continue to mercilessly strike Hezbollah in all parts of Lebanon, including Beirut,” he said.
The attack follows a Hezbollah drone strike on a military base in Israel, which killed four and injured 60 according to volunteer rescuers.
Hezbollah said it launched the drone strikes in response to Israeli attacks. These included one in central Beirut last week which killed 22 people.
Israel strikes tent hospital in Gaza
An Israeli fighter jet bombed the Al Aqsa tent hospital in Gaza causing a fire to break out. So far the fire has burnt four people to death and injured 40 others.
Dr Mohammed Tahir a volunteer Surgeon at the hospital told Al Jazeera that he and his team were already overwhelmed dealing with another Israeli attack on a school when victims from the hospital came flooding in.
“It’s a horror show here,” he said. “Honestly, sometimes I feel like this is not real life, that this can go on and this degree of suffering is allowed to happen in this world.”
Dr Tahir said some patients had burns on 60-80 percent of their body, many of them will not survive.
“Patients with significant high percentage burns, unfortunately, their fate is sealed,” he said. “They won’t even make it to the ICU, they will die.”
Netanyahu warns peacekeepers to get out of harms way
Israeli forces have attacked United Nations (UN) positions several times over the last week. Two United Nations Interim Forces In Lebanon (UNIFIL) soldiers were injured after Israel targeted their headquarters twice in a 48-hour period.
According to a statement posted by UNIFIL to X (formerly twitter), they will not be stepping out of the way.
“Despite this dangerous development, peacekeepers remain in position,” it said. “We are regularly adjusting our posture and activities, and we have contingency plans ready to activate if absolutely necessary.”
Netanyahu emphasised on X that while he was apologetic for any harm done to soldiers of the UNIFIL, Israel will do whatever it takes to win the war.
“We regret any harm done to UNIFIL personnel and the IDF is doing its utmost to prevent such incidents,” he said. “But the best way to assure the safety of UNIFIL personnel is for UNIFIL to heed Israel’s request and to temporarily get out of harm’s way.”
“Hezbollah uses UNIFIL facilities and positions as cover while it attacks Israeli cities and communities. These attacks have claimed the lives of many Israelis, including yesterday.”
Israel cuts off supplies to northern Gaza
The Israeli military is launching a siege on Jabalia and separating northern Gaza from Gaza City. They have prevented any aid from entering northern Gaza as it stages major ground and air assaults.
In the past week, at least 200 people have been killed in Israeli assaults on northern Gaza according to Mounir al-Bursh head of the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza.
According to Al Jazeera over 42,000 people have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, with almost 100,000 injured, and 10,000 missing. In Israel, over 1,100 people have been killed with nearly 9,000 injured.
Photo: Israel’s Economic and Political Outlook: Benjamin Netanyahu by World Economic Forum is available HERE and is used under a Creative Commons License. This image has not been modified.
