Israeli airstrike on Beirut suburb kills three and injures seven
It was the second airstrike on areas in Beirut's southern suburbs since the the ceasefire between Israel and the Hezbollah militia came into effect in November.
Eyewitnesses said the airstrike targeted the top three floors of a building with two missiles in the Dahieh suburb of Beirut, a known Hezbollah stronghold. It also caused damage to nearby buildings, they added.
Ibrahim Mousawi, a member of Hezbollah bloc in the Lebanese parliament, has condemned the latest Israeli strikes, describing them "as a major act of aggression" that has pushed the situation into an entirely different phase.
He placed full responsibility for what he termed a 'crime' on the international community and the United States, the local Lebanese pro-Iranian al-Mayadeen and Hezbollah-run al-Manar television channels cited him as saying.
He asserted that Israel has effectively declared the ceasefire agreement null and void through its continuous airstrikes and violations in the south of Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley region and the southern suburbs of Beirut.
'The situation has become intolerable. The world is watching as our people are targeted in their sleep, and there is no justification for attacking civilians,' Mousawi said.
Despite the escalation, he reaffirmed Hezbollah's commitment to its stance, emphasizing that Lebanon still has a full opportunity to respond to these violations through state institutions. 'We are not war enthusiasts,' he added.
Mousawi urged the Lebanese government to take decisive diplomatic measures.
"When the state acknowledges that the enemy is breaching the agreement, it must activate the highest levels of diplomacy to find solutions,' he added.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said earlier it targeted a Hezbollah terrorist who had supported members of the allied Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in planning an imminent attack on Israeli civilians.
The man posed a direct threat and was "eliminated," the IDF said in a statement on X.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun strongly condemned the Israeli strike, which hit in early hours of the morning.
He described the attack as a "serious warning" that signals premeditated intentions against Lebanon, particularly given its timing.
"We must intensify our engagement with Lebanon's friends around the world to uphold our right to full sovereignty and prevent any violations - whether from external forces or infiltrators within Lebanon who provide justification for further aggression," he said.
On Friday, the Israeli military said it hit a Hezbollah facility in Dahieh used to store drones.
Shortly before that, the IDF said it had intercepted two projectiles aimed at northern Israel from the direction of Lebanon.
The Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia had fired rockets at Israel for more than a year since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023 in support of Hamas.
Israel responded with massive airstrikes and a ground offensive.
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Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Finally, the Dam Shoring Up Support for Israel Seems to Be Breaking
Something seems different now. After 22 months of seemingly endless genocide in Gaza carried out by the Israeli military, suddenly there is a sense of heightened outrage around the world, including from voices that have thus far held off from being more critical of Israel's actions. The images of starving children in Gaza, victims of a calculated Israeli policy to restrict the entry of humanitarian aid and desperately needed medicine and supplies, have rocketed around the world across the covers of mainstream newspapers and in nightly broadcasts. If there is a defining characteristic of the genocide in Gaza, the most live-documented genocide in history, it is that every time you think you have seen the most horrifying image you can possibly imagine, there is a worse one the next day. But why is this happening now? Why is it that only now does it seem a critical mass of consciences around the world have been stirred? Have we not seen enough before this? Was the little body of the massacred 6-year-old Hind Rajab, after she was fired at over 300 times, not enough to shock us? Was the systematic destruction of Gaza's civilian infrastructure, from its hospitals to its universities, not enough cause for alarm? Has the constant stream of images of mutilated bodies of children, courtesy of American-made Israeli-dropped bombs not been enough? These questions should forever haunt us. This week, a U.S. Army Green Beret who worked for the 'Gaza Humanitarian Foundation,' the organization concocted by Israel to supplant the United Nations and other humanitarian aid delivery mechanisms toward the purpose of starving and forcibly displacing the remaining population in Gaza, began to tell all about the war crimes he witnessed in Gaza. His firsthand testimony is nothing short of remarkable and required listening for every American taxpayer funding this all. He detailed how a young Palestinian boy walked several kilometers to get the littlest bit of food from the distribution site he was working at. The boy thanked and kissed him, and after leaving was gunned down by the Israeli military who had fired into the crowds. At the same time, Israel's two best-known human rights organizations publicly concluded that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza, broadening the already well-established consensus among human rights organizations and scholars about the nature of the crimes being carried out against Palestinians. Numerous European states have spoken out about the starvation in Gaza with harsher language than before and in a concerted fashion. Several have also announced intentions to recognize a state of Palestine, signaling their severe disapproval of Israeli actions. Perhaps it is a cumulative effect. Perhaps the images of children reduced to skin and bones was the final straw. Whatever the reason ultimately is, the critical question is: Now that we are here, what is going to be done about it? And action is needed more urgently than ever. For far too many in Gaza, it is too late. Over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in these 22 months, according to local health authorities, but many believe this is likely a significant undercount. Even those who have not been killed yet face irreparable harm from starvation and malnutrition, particularly the most vulnerable members of society; children in developmental stages, the elderly, and the sick. Now it seems the Israeli government is moving toward annexing parts of the Gaza Strip after declaring the vast majority of it an annihilation zone where anything that moves can be destroyed. Meanwhile, in the West Bank, the situation also only continues to turn for the worse. Israeli settler violence is setting new records on a regular basis. Earlier this summer, a Palestinian American from Florida was beaten to death by Israeli settlers in the village of Sinjil. This week, an Israeli settler shot and killed a Palestinian man who had played a key role in the production of the Oscar-winning film No Other Land. That settler, previously sanctioned by the Biden administration, only to have sanctions on him lifted by Trump a few months later, shot and killed Awda Hathaleen in broad daylight and on camera. He has already been released by Israeli authorities. The Israeli government, drunk on impunity for war crimes, is eyeing annexation in the West Bank as well. A nonbinding resolution in the Knesset around annexation of the West Bank passed overwhelmingly this month, laying the political groundwork for the next formal steps. Inside Israel, hateful rhetoric and attacks on its Palestinian citizens are escalating to a fever pitch. In recent weeks a campaign to oust Palestinian Knesset member Ayman Odeh got 73 votes, and while it failed to reach the very high threshold of 90, it succeeded in ginning up mob violence against him. He was attacked in his car, which was surrounded by violent, screaming thugs. Arab cafeteria workers at a Jerusalem cinema were attacked by a racist mob of patrons. Not long before that, an Arab bus driver was mercilessly beaten by a mob of Jewish bus riders. In all these cases, the mobs break out into a common chant: 'Death to the Arabs,' a genocidal slogan their military is implementing daily. Polls show that alarmingly large swaths of the Israeli public are supportive of war crimes, with a significant majority of Jewish Israelis supporting the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza and nearly half supporting the idea that the Israeli military 'when conquering an enemy city, should act in a manner similar to the way the Israelites acted when they conquered Jericho under the leadership of Joshua, namely, to kill all its inhabitants.' Israel's government and society seem to have lost any sense of logic or decency and are on a fast track toward increasing violence in all directions. Polls of Americans, however, show growing alienation and disgust with what Israel is doing in Gaza. The latest numbers from Gallup show that only 32 percent of Americans support Israel's actions in Gaza now, the lowest since November 2023. These numbers are driven by Democrats and independents, among whom support for Israel's actions in Gaza are at 8 percent and 25 percent, respectively. Netanyahu, who fancies himself a glorious man of history, is also hitting new lows among Americans. History is of course littered with famed villains, and Netanyahu is on track to take his place among them in the American imagination. The longer-term impact of all of this cannot be overstated, especially given the demographic divide so clear in these numbers. The younger you are, the more likely you are not just to disapprove of Israel's actions but also to see them as genocidal. Unlike their parents, who grew up thinking about Israel in the context of genocide and seeing it as a historic victim, the generations that will inherit America see it as a perpetrator. This is the new public context in which U.S.-Israel relations will take shape in the years to come. Perhaps this is finally the Abu Ghraib moment, where public unease crosses the line into public anger and opposition over our actions. If Zohran Mamdani's primary election victory in New York is any indication, the genocide in Gaza, and American support for it, will also help shape Democratic Party politics in the years to come, and probably national politics as well, given that independents trend much more closely with Democrats on this issue than with Republicans. The Democratic race for the nomination in 2028, much like 2008, might hinge on how right a candidate is perceived to have been on the most pressing moral question facing this generation: the genocide in Gaza. For the children of Gaza, however, who are being starved and bombed to death every day, there is little time to waste wondering how this will play out in the years to come. They need immediate action now. Gimmicks like airdrops or performative recognition of Palestinian statehood are mere distractions. Real and urgent action from Western leaders in the form of ending all support for the Israeli military and imposing sanctions on its leaders is needed to bring an end to this monstrous genocide. The entire world has now seen the fruit of our support for Israel in the images of children's spines protruding from their deliberately starved bodies, and it leaves us with only one question: When will our leaders find their backbones? Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
40 minutes ago
- CBS News
Canada says it plans to recognize Palestine as a state, joining the U.K. and France
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada will recognize Palestine as a state in September at the United Nations General Assembly, following similar announcements from the United Kingdom and France. "The deepening suffering of civilians leaves no room for delay in co-ordinated international action to support peace, security, and the dignity of all human life," Carney said in a statement Wednesday. Canada has had a long-standing position supporting the idea of an independent Palestinian state existing alongside Israel, but has said recognition should come as part of a negotiated two-state solution to the conflict. Carney said Wednesday that prospects of a two-state solution "have been steadily and gravely eroded." "Preserving a two-state solution means standing with all people who choose peace over violence or terrorism, and honouring their innate desire for the peaceful co-existence of Israeli and Palestinian states as the only roadmap for a secure and prosperous future," Carney said. Canada said its recognition is "predicated on the Palestinian Authority's commitment to much-needed reforms, including the commitments by Palestinian Authority President [Mahmoud] Abbas to fundamentally reform its governance, to hold general elections in 2026 in which Hamas can play no part, and to demilitarize the Palestinian state." Hamas must also immediately release all hostages taken in the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks on Israel, disarm and "play no role in the future governance of Palestine," Carney reiterated. "Canada will always steadfastly support Israel's existence as an independent state in the Middle East living in peace and security. Any path to lasting peace for Israel also requires a viable and stable Palestinian state, and one that recognizes Israel's inalienable right to security and peace," the prime minister said. The Israeli Foreign Ministry denounced Canada's decision on Wednesday, calling it "a reward for Hamas." "Israel rejects the statement by the Prime Minister of Canada," the Israeli Foreign Ministry said on social media. "The change in the position of the Canadian government at this time is a reward for Hamas and harms the efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of the hostages." President Trump reacted to the announcement with a post on his Truth Social platform. "Wow! Canada has just announced that it is backing statehood for Palestine. That will make it very hard for us to make a Trade Deal with them. Oh' Canada!!!" Mr. Trump said. Carney said the decision to recognize Palestine as a state came after he discussed the crisis with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The United Kingdom and France each decided this month to recognize a Palestinian state as pressure has mounted on Israel to allow more aid into Gaza. Starmer said the U.K. will recognize Palestine as a state unless Israel takes "substantive steps" to end the "appalling situation in Gaza," including the establishment of a ceasefire in Gaza, a commitment to halting the annexation of territory in the West Bank and a pledge to work toward a peace process involving a two-state solution. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the decision, saying in a statement posted on X that "Starmer rewards Hamas's monstrous terrorism & punishes its victims." "Consistent with its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine," French President Emmanuel Macron said. "The urgent priority today is to end the war in Gaza and to bring relief to the civilian population." Netanyahu said Israel "strongly" condemned France's decision and that it "rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became." In response to "growing European initiatives to recognize a Palestinian state," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents the families of those taken hostage in Hamas' Oct. 7 terror attack, on Wednesday said, "Recognizing a Palestinian state while 50 hostages remain trapped in Hamas tunnels amounts to rewarding terrorism. Such recognition is not a step toward peace, but rather a clear violation of international law and a dangerous moral and political failure that legitimizes horrific war crimes." Some 1,200 people were killed in Hamas' 2023 terrorist attack on Israel, mostly civilians. Israel says 251 people were taken hostage, with 50 still being held in Gaza, including one abducted before the Oct. 7 attack. Since then, more than 60,000 people have been killed in Israel's war in the Gaza Strip, most of whom are women and children, according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, which does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths. Food security experts warn that the entire population of Gaza is facing famine unless unfettered humanitarian aid is immediately allowed into the territory. "If the international community truly desires peace, it must join U.S. efforts by demanding first the release of all hostages, followed by an end to the fighting. Recognition of a Palestinian state before the hostages are returned will be remembered throughout history as validating terrorism as a legitimate pathway to political goals," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said. Israel over the weekend announced daily humanitarian pauses in fighting in parts of Gaza and airdrops in order to provide more humanitarian aid. More than 140 countries recognize a Palestinian state, but the United States is not among them. Emmet Lyons and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
Trump envoy arrives in Israel amid rising Gaza death toll of Palestinians seeking aid
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — President Donald Trump's special envoy arrived in Israel on Thursday to discuss the disintegrating humanitarian situation in Gaza, as the death toll of Palestinians waiting for food and other aid continued to climb. At least 91 Palestinians were killed and more than 600 wounded while attempting to get aid in the past 24 hours, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. This includes 54 people killed while awaiting food in northern Gaza near the Zikim crossing on Wednesday, the ministry said. The toll is expected to rise further as many of those killed or wounded were brought to isolated, smaller hospitals in northern Gaza and have not yet been counted. The Israeli military said Palestinians surrounded aid trucks and the Israeli military fired warning shots into the crowd, but that it isn't aware of any injuries stemming from Israeli fire. A security official who spoke on the condition of anonymity in line with military regulations said the gunfire came from within the crowd and altercations between Palestinians attempting to access aid. A diplomatic push Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel on Thursday afternoon as the U.S. imposed new sanctions on officials from the Western-backed Palestinian Authority. He is expected to speak with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and a possible ceasefire, according to an official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. This is the first meeting between Witkoff and Netanyahu since both Israel and the U.S. called their negotiation teams home from Qatar one week ago. Witkoff said at the time that Hamas 'shows a lack of desire' to reach a truce. Hamas started the war with its attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, in which militants killed around 1,200 people and abducted 251 others. They still hold 50 hostages, including around 20 believed to be alive. Most of the others have been released in ceasefires or other deals. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Its count doesn't distinguish between militants and civilians. The ministry operates under the Hamas government. The U.N. and other international organizations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties. In Jerusalem, thousands of people, including families of some of the approximately 50 hostages still being held in Gaza, demonstrated on Wednesday in front of Netanyahu's office calling for an end to the war. Aid trickles into Gaza Under heavy international pressure, Israel announced a series of measures over the weekend to facilitate the entry of more international aid to Gaza, but aid workers say much more is needed. The Israeli defense body in charge of coordinating humanitarian aid in Gaza said 270 trucks of aid entered Gaza on Wednesday, and 32 pallets of aid were airdropped into the Strip. That amount is far lower than the 500 to 600 trucks per day that aid organizations say are needed. The international community has heaped criticism on Israel over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. International organizations said that Gaza has been on the brink of famine for the past two years, but that recent developments, including a complete blockade on aid for 2 1/2 months, mean that the 'worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out in Gaza.' Criticism of Israel in Gaza comes from staunch allies German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul was also due in Israel later Thursday on a two-day trip that will also take him to the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Germany, traditionally a particularly staunch ally of Israel, has been increasingly critical recently of Israel's actions in Gaza. It has insisted that Israel must do more to increase aid supplies and pushed for a ceasefire. Berlin hasn't joined major allies France, Britain, and Canada, in saying they will recognize a Palestinian state in September. But in a statement ahead of his departure Thursday, Wadephul underlined Germany's position that a two-state solution is 'the only way' to ensure a future in peace and security for people on both sides. 'For Germany, the recognition of a Palestinian state stands rather at the end of the process. But such a process must begin now. Germany will not move from this aim. Germany also will be forced to react to unilateral steps,' Wadephul said without elaborating. U.S. revokes visas of Palestinian officials Palestinian officials linked to the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization will no longer be able to travel to the U.S. after their visas were revoked Thursday, marking a further deterioration of their relations with the United States. The State Department said the organizations had violated longstanding agreements not to undermine the peace process or globalize the conflict through international courts. It accused them of inciting violence and supporting attackers and their families. It did not specify which officials would be sanctioned, but similar actions taken during President Donald Trump's first term led the group to shutter it's Washington-based office in 2018. Some of the recent recognitions of Palestinian statehood have been predicated on reforming the PA, which is mired in corruption and widely unpopular at home. The PA has also clashed bitterly with Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza. The PLO, the internationally recognized representative of the Palestinian people, oversees the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited autonomy in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
