People examine the devastation following Israeli strikes in the neighborhood of Haret Harik in the southern suburbs of Beirut on November 1, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. , Photo courtesy: AFP
on Friday (November 1, 2024), a day after US envoys made renewed but so far futile diplomatic efforts to end the more than year-long fighting between Israel and Iran-backed groups Hamas and Hezbollah. Israel bombed the Gaza Strip and the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Overnight, 47 Palestinians were killed and dozens of others wounded in Israeli strikes on the city of Deir al-Balah, the Nusirat camp and the town of al-Zawayda in the central Gaza Strip, Palestinian news agency WAFA reports.
The Israeli army said its troops killed armed militants in central Gaza and the Jabaliya area of northern Gaza.
Israel attacks Lebanon
Israel also carried out at least 10 strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Friday morning (November 1, 2024). reuters Journalists said. It was the first bombing on the area – once a densely populated district and a Hezbollah stronghold – in nearly a week.
The attacks came after Israel issued evacuation orders for 10 separate areas. The attacks began even before the final series of orders were published.
Israel has continued its military attacks in devastated Gaza and Lebanon despite Washington’s efforts to ensure a ceasefire on both fronts ahead of the US presidential elections next Tuesday. The hostilities have dashed any hopes of reaching a ceasefire before next week.
Addressing graduating Israeli soldiers on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that “agreements, documents, proposals are not the main point.”
He said, “The key point is our ability and determination to enforce security, to thwart attacks against us, and to take action against the weapons of our enemies as needed and despite any pressures and constraints. This is the key point.”
His office said he conveyed a similar message to US envoys to Israel Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk on Thursday.
Israeli stubbornness
Lebanon’s acting Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Friday (November 1, 2024): “The Israeli statements and diplomatic signals received by Lebanon confirm Israeli insistence on rejecting the proposed solutions and insisting on an approach of killing and destruction”.
Israel also on Thursday (October 31, 2024) launched strikes on the Baalbek region in Lebanon’s east, which is home to UNESCO-listed Roman ruins. A cultural group that holds annual festivals among the ruins said some cracks were visible due to nearby Israeli attacks.
published – November 01, 2024 05:17 PM IST