Israel strike on south Lebanon kills one
The state-run National News Agency (NNA) said a man was killed when an Israeli drone targeted his car as he was heading to pray at a mosque in Deir Al-Zahrani, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Israeli border.
Israel has continued to bomb Lebanon despite the November 27 truce that sought to halt more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah including two months of open war.
The Israeli army said the strike killed a regional commander 'of Hezbollah's rocket array.'
It charged that during the conflict, the operative 'advanced numerous projectile attacks... and was involved recently in efforts to reestablish Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure' in south Lebanon.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, Hezbollah fighters were to pull back north of the Litani River, some 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the border, and dismantle military infrastructure to its south.
Israel was to withdraw all forces from Lebanon but it has kept troops in five areas it deems 'strategic.'
The Lebanese army has deployed in the south and has been dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure.
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Arab News
7 hours ago
- Arab News
Starmer's pledge on Palestinian state ‘grotesque,' says campaign group
LONDON: The Palestine Solidarity Campaign on Wednesday condemned the UK prime minister's framing of Palestinian statehood. Keir Starmer pledged to recognize a Palestinian state in September if Israel fails to reach a ceasefire with Hamas, among other conditions. Placing the Palestinian right to self-determination 'within the context of Israel's actions' is 'shameful,' the PSC said in a statement, adding that it is an 'inalienable right' that should be recognized regardless of Israel's conduct. Starmer's apparent shift, which followed in French President Emmanuel Macron's footsteps, 'came in part because of intense pressure from the British public, expressed in the huge protest movement that has persevered over many months,' the PSC said. Since the beginning of the Gaza war in October 2023, the PSC and a host of other campaign groups have led regular protest marches through British cities. The protests have swelled in size amid mounting public anger over Israel's conduct in Gaza, as well as the UK government's perceived reluctance to take action against it. Protesters have focused on British ties to Israel and its military, waging boycott campaigns against companies with ties to the Israel Defense Forces. 'Every British MP and government official is also aware of the fact that British-exported weapons are being used by the Israeli military in its brutality against Palestinian civilians and complete devastation of the Gaza Strip's infrastructure,' the PSC said. 'British politicians are now bemoaning the images of horror, but continuing to act as partners in Israel's genocide by maintaining trade with Israel, including in weapons and other military items, and by implementing limited sanctions on a few individual ministers, as though Israel's genocide is being engineered and carried out by a 'few bad apples.'' The PSC condemned Starmer's move this week as 'grotesque,' and one that tells Palestinians: 'State recognition may come, but only if and when many, many more of you are dead.' Rather than representing a turning point, his decision is 'simply more of the same,' the PSC said, describing the pledge as having been 'added to the package of collusion and complicity with genocide.' It called on the government to take immediate steps and 'everything in their power' to secure an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza. The UK must also place a comprehensive weapons embargo on Israel, the PSC demanded. 'Keir Starmer claims support for the Palestinian right to self-determination while ensuring that Israel has all the means it needs to eradicate the Palestinian people and annex their land,' it said. 'The British public will not be fooled into holding out hope for the possibility of a symbolic gesture granted by the British government in September.'
Arab News
9 hours ago
- Arab News
The growing wave of celebrities who have endorsed a two-state solution and condemned Israel over the Gaza catastrophe
RIYADH: As Israel's assault on Gaza continues, a growing number of cultural figures are using their global platform to demand a ceasefire, speak out against alleged war crimes, and support Palestinian civilians. Almost 22 months since the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel triggered the war in Gaza, artists, writers, musicians, and actors who once remained silent have joined growing calls for a ceasefire and condemnation of what many now openly describe as genocide. This year alone, open letters signed by hundreds of artists, authors and filmmakers have made headlines, demanding action from political leaders and calling out what they describe as the dehumanization of Palestinians. From high-profile actors to music stars and children's entertainers, here are just some of the well-known figures who have taken a stand. Ariana Grande Pop singer Ariana Grande joined a growing number of artists speaking out about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. On Sunday, July 17, she posted two Instagram stories backing the Red Line for Gaza campaign, which demands unrestricted access to humanitarian aid. In one story, Grande shared a message that read: 'Starving people to death is a red line. The Israeli government is crossing this red line before our eyes.' Angelina Jolie In April this year, American actress Angelina Jolie, who spent over 20 years as a goodwill ambassador and special envoy for the UNHCR, reaffirmed her support for Gaza by sharing a Medecins Sans Frontiers report on Gaza in an Instagram story. The report described the situation in Gaza as a 'mass grave for Palestinians and those helping them.' But Jolie has been an advocate for Palestinian people's rights since the conflict began in October 2023. She wrote in an Instagram post on Oct. 28 that year: 'What happened in Israel is an act of terror. 'But that cannot justify the innocent lives lost in bombing a civilian population in Gaza that has nowhere to go, no access to food or water, no possibility of evacuation and not even the basic human right to cross a border to seek refuge.' Susan Sarandon In an Artists4Ceasefire post on Instagram in February, American actress Susan Sarandon was quoted as saying: 'Palestinians have the right to return, rebuild, and live in freedom on their land. 'Gaza was destroyed with our weapons — now Trump wants to ethnically cleanse Palestinian survivors to create resort properties for his developer friends and family. 'We must rise up together, use everything we have, to finally end the suffering our government inflicts. Peace and justice are for all of us, or for none of us. What we allow in Gaza, we allow everywhere.' Mark Ruffalo In February 2024, at the Directors Guild of America Awards in Beverly Hills, American actor Mark Ruffalo called for a ceasefire in Gaza. He wore two pins on his jacket and told the entertainment news website Deadline that the pins represented 'peace lilies and Artists for Ceasefire.' Ruffalo said: 'We've come to understand this bombing isn't working, we're not going to bomb our way to peace, and all we're saying is, what's wrong with giving a ceasefire a chance?' Piers Morgan British journalist Piers Morgan has publicly called on US President Donald Trump to intervene and demand Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu end the war in Gaza. In a post on X in June, Morgan wrote: 'Now is the time for you to tell (Netanyahu) to end this terrible war … and stop the incessant daily slaughter of civilians.' Once a staunch defender of Israel's right to retaliate after the Oct. 7 attack, Morgan has since shifted tone. Speaking with Mehdi Hasan on his show, he said he could 'resist no more' in criticizing Israel's actions, describing them as the 'starvation of the people.' Gigi and Bella Hadid Supermodel sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid have donated a combined $1 million to support Palestinian relief efforts. The funds were to be equally distributed among four organizations: HEAL Palestine, Palestine Children's Relief Fund, World Central Kitchen, and UNRWA. The Hadid sisters, whose father is Palestinian, have been outspoken advocates for the Palestinian cause, with Gigi expressing deep empathy for Palestinians living under occupation and emphasizing her hopes for peace that exclude harm to any Jewish person. 'I have deep empathy and heartbreak for the Palestinian struggle and life under occupation, it's a responsibility I hold daily,' Gigi said in a statement following the Oct. 7 attack. 'I also feel a responsibility to my Jewish friends to make it clear, as I have before: While I have hopes and dreams for Palestinians, none of them include the harm of a Jewish person.' Dua Lipa British-Kosovan singer Dua Lipa publicly condemned Israel's military operations in Gaza, calling them 'Israeli genocide,' The Guardian reported in May 2024. Sharing a graphic from the Artists4Ceasefire campaign alongside the widely used hashtag #AllEyesOnRafah, Lipa wrote: 'Burning children alive can never be justified. The whole world is mobilizing to stop the Israeli genocide. Please show your solidarity with Gaza.' Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye In April 2024, Canadian singer and songwriter and UN World Food Programme Goodwill Ambassador Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye allocated another $2 million from his XO Humanitarian Fund toward WFP's humanitarian response efforts in Gaza. The funding built on the original $2.5 million that Tesfaye directed to WFP's Gaza response in December 2023. Amir Khan In the days after the Oct. 7 attack, British-Pakistani former boxer Amir Khan said people are often 'scared' to come out in support of Palestine, fearing backlash. He took to X to say that 'Palestinian lives matter' and that he has 'never been scared to speak' his mind. 'My entire career, my aim was to become a world champion and use my fame and influence to make a positive change in the world,' he said. 'I've never been scared to speak my mind and stand up for the downtrodden. 'Recently when Ukraine was attacked by Russia, I personally flew to Poland to support the Ukrainian refugees who had been displaced by the effects of war. 'So many people spoke up about these atrocities, but as the world watches what is unfolding in Palestine, I see so many of my peers, friends and colleagues who are remaining silent. Why?' Renee Rapp American singer and actress Renee Rapp used her acceptance speech at the 35th annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles to call for an 'immediate' and 'permanent ceasefire' in Gaza. She urged the audience to use their voices to advocate not only for themselves but also for their friends and those who cannot advocate for themselves. Nicola Coughlan Irish actress Nicola Mary Coughlan regularly shares posts on social media showing support for Gaza. In one post from November 2023, she wrote: 'Let no one — no person, no news organization, no government gaslight you into thinking that basic human empathy is controversial.' In another post in May 2025, she called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and wrote: 'I think it deeply important that people speak up in this moment. No child, no matter where they are from, their religion, anything should be starved to death by a government. 'This is a war crime, plain and simple. The US and UK governments who are aiding and abetting this need to be held to account. This is happening with our tax money and we have a moral obligation to tell them we will not let this happen.' Riz Ahmed In October 2023, British-Pakistani actor and musician Riz Ahmed called Israel's strikes 'morally indefensible war crimes.' He urged the public and leaders to urgently speak out to prevent further loss of innocent lives, highlighting the deep pain and suffering experienced by both Israelis and Palestinians under long-standing occupation and ongoing violence. Ahmed has been part of movements and public letters urging respect for human rights and coexistence, implicitly supporting peace initiatives like a two-state solution. He has been involved in calls for peace in the Middle East alongside other celebrities, referencing 'a two-state solution for peace-loving Israelis and Palestinians' as part of broader advocacy. Zadie Smith A year after publishing an essay in The New Yorker critical of campus protests, British novelist Zadie Smith became one of the most prominent signatories of an open letter by UK and Irish authors condemning Israel's actions. 'The use of the words 'genocide' or 'acts of genocide' to describe what is happening in Gaza is no longer debated by international legal experts or human rights organizations,' the letter stated. Benedict Cumberbatch The British actor was among 300 UK public figures who signed an open letter to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, urging the UK to end its 'complicity in the horrors in Gaza.' The letter, organized by campaign group Choose Love, stated: 'Right now, children in Gaza are starving while food and medicine sit just minutes away, blocked at the border. Words won't feed Palestinian children — we need action. Every single one of Gaza's 2.1 million people is at risk of starvation, as you read this.' Steve Coogan After signing the UK entertainment industry letter, British actor Steve Coogan publicly read the names of children killed in Gaza at a Westminster vigil. He told Sky News: 'They're all children who had lives, who had nothing to do with the conflict … this has to stop.' As the 'mass, indiscriminate killing of innocent people' has continued, he added, 'more and more people are realizing that this has to stop.' Juliette Binoche Initially reluctant to sign a Cannes Film Festival letter denouncing genocide in Gaza, Binoche faced backlash for her silence. After dedicating her festival opening remarks to a slain Gazan journalist — without naming Israel — she reversed course and signed the letter the next day. More than 370 actors and filmmakers, including high-profile Hollywood figures such as Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, and Guillermo del Toro signed the May open letter condemning the film industry's silence on what they described as 'genocide' in Gaza. Malala Yousafzai The Nobel laureate wrote on X: 'It makes me sick to my stomach to see Israel's cruelty and brutality in Gaza … I call on every world leader to put maximum pressure on the Israeli government to end this genocide and protect civilians.' Thom Yorke The Radiohead frontman, once criticized for performing in Tel Aviv, posted on Instagram to denounce Netanyahu for the 'horrific blockade of aid to Gaza,' adding that the 'excuse of self-defense has long worn thin.' Rachel Accurso The children's entertainer behind the successful YouTube brand, Ms Rachel, told NPR in May: 'I would risk everything, and I will risk my career over and over to stand up for (Gazan children). It's all about the kids for me.' Dan Reynolds During a Milan concert, Imagine Dragons' Reynolds wore a Palestinian flag after a fan tossed it on stage. The act drew renewed attention to the band's controversial earlier decision to perform in Israel — and highlighted shifting stances within the music world. Paloma Faith Faith delivered a speech at a protest outside the Israeli Embassy in London in March, vowing she 'won't fall silent until Palestine is free.' She said: 'When the ceasefire was called, like all of you I was relieved but fearful that it would not last. 'I know that Israel has violated every ceasefire agreement it has ever signed, but even with that knowledge and that fear, even after watching months of that genocide, I wasn't prepared for these new depths of brutality to which Israel has descended.' She added: 'A child is slaughtered every eight minutes, we should stand in silence for a minute for every child killed in Gaza in this genocide but if we did that, we'd be silent for over 300 hours so I won't fall silent.' She has also appeared in a campaign urging boycotts of Israeli goods. Hannah Einbinder While accepting a Human Rights Campaign award in LA in March, the Hacks star said: 'I am horrified by the Israeli government's massacre of well over 65,000 Palestinians in Gaza.' 'I am ashamed and infuriated that this mass murder is funded by our American tax dollars. It should not be controversial to say that we should all be against murdering civilians.' Andrew Garfield On the Happy Sad Confused podcast in October 2024, American actor Garfield was blunt: 'We should be putting our energy towards something that actually matters — maybe the lives of Palestinians in Gaza right now. 'Maybe that's where we put our hearts and our energy in, and oppressed, anyone suffering under the weight of the horrors of our world right now, anyone who doesn't have a choice in living lives of dignity. That's where our energy should be going right now.' Marcia Cross The 'Desperate Housewives' actress has consistently called for a ceasefire on social media. 'It's about the land. And extermination of the Palestinian people. Sick,' she wrote in October 2024. In February, she posted a quote from Iraqi-American lawyer and poet Tina Al-Khersan on Instagram, which read: 'I'm struggling to comprehend how to live among people with eyes that don't water, hearts that don't flinch, and voices that remain silent.' John Legend Speaking to Mehdi Hasan in October 2024, Legend criticized US aid to Israel. 'We shouldn't be writing blank checks to any country … It makes me very frustrated at how we easily dehumanize certain people.' He has long linked racial justice in the US to Palestinian liberation. Javier Bardem In 2014, Bardem denounced Israeli attacks in the Spanish newspaper El Diario, facing backlash that lasted years. In 2024, he returned to the issue at the San Sebastian Film Festival, criticizing the Oct. 7 attack, as well as the 'massive punishment that the Palestinian population is enduring.' Speaking to AP after the event, Bardem said: 'I believe that we can and must help bring peace. If we take a different approach, then we will get different results. 'The security and prosperity of Israel and the health and future of a free Palestine will only be possible through a culture of peace, coexistence and respect.' JJ (Johannes Pietsch) After winning Eurovision 2025, JJ criticized Israel's inclusion in the competition. 'It's very disappointing to see Israel still participating. I would like Eurovision to be held without Israel in Vienna next year,' the Austrian-Filipino singer told Spanish newspaper El Pais. 'But the ball is in the European Broadcasting Union's court. We, the artists, can only speak out on the matter.'
Al Arabiya
12 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Hezbollah says those demanding it disarm are ‘serving' Israel
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said on Wednesday that those demanding its disarmament are 'serving the Israeli project,' accusing US envoy Tom Barrack of 'intimidating' Lebanon. In a televised address marking the first anniversary of the targeted killing by Israel of senior commander Fuad Shukr, Qassem said "anyone calling today for the surrender of weapons, whether internally or externally, on the Arab or the international stage, is serving the Israeli project.' He accused Barrack of using 'intimidation and threats' with the aim of 'aiding Israel.'
