There has been a remarkable surge in Israeli strikes Beirut and Gaza areas that its military has designed as safe humanitarian zones.
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Israel Strikes Beirut and Gaza
Israel’s recent military operations in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of seven Palestinians, while a UN expert on food security has accused the Israeli military of employing famine as a tactic of warfare to displace populations within the region. Concurrently, Israeli forces have intensified their bombardment of southern Beirut and targeted locations along the Syria-Lebanon border, with the leader of Hezbollah vowing to “achieve victory and defeat our enemy.”
In a notable appointment, US President-elect Donald Trump has selected Marco Rubio for the position of Secretary of State, marking another pro-Israel choice for his cabinet. Since the onset of hostilities on October 7, 2023, Israel’s actions in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of at least 43,712 Palestinians and injuries to 103,258 individuals. On that same day, approximately 1,139 people in Israel lost their lives due to attacks led by Hamas, with over 200 individuals reported as captives.
In Lebanon, the toll from Israeli strikes has reached at least 3,365 fatalities and 14,344 injuries since the conflict in Gaza commenced.
Aid group expresses concern over plight of Lebanon’s elderly
Islamic Relief has reported that the ongoing bombardment of Lebanon by Israel has particularly endangered the elderly, leaving them without access to essential medicine, food, and heating fuel as winter approaches.
In the eastern Bekaa Valley, where there has been an increase in Israeli assaults and forced displacement, elderly individuals have indicated that they are resorting to significant debt to afford medication due to soaring prices.
Many have stated that they are compelled to skip meals, purchase less food, and forgo medical appointments, as numerous clinics have either closed or raised their fees.
According to Islamic Relief, approximately 11 percent of Lebanon’s population is aged 65 and older, with around 100,000 elderly individuals among the 1.4 million people displaced from their homes due to Israeli military actions.
Biden is a ‘lame duck’ president – but can he still put pressure on Israel?
With fewer than 70 days remaining in his term, US President Joe Biden has officially entered the “lame duck” phase of his presidency. This transitional period occurs between administrations, during which a president’s capacity to influence and shape policy diminishes as the incoming leader prepares to assume office.
As Biden’s extensive political career approaches its conclusion, he faces a final opportunity to solidify his legacy, particularly in the realm of foreign policy, an area he has consistently regarded as a hallmark of his administration.
“With the political stakes lowered, Biden may opt to pursue beneficial initiatives,” stated Matt Duss, executive vice president at the Center for International Policy, in an interview with Al Jazeera. “However, this has never been solely about politics; it is also ideological. This reflects his belief in how the US-Israel relationship ought to function, which involves minimal pressure on Israel regarding any issues.”
UN expert slams Israeli law authorising the jailing of Palestinian children
Francesca Albanese stated that Palestinian minors detained by Israel experience torment that often exceeds their breaking point, asserting that “generations of Palestinians will bear the scars and trauma inflicted by the Israeli mass incarceration system.”
Israel has just passed laws allowing *CHILDREN* under the age of 14 to be JAILED. Currently 270 children are held in Israeli detention, a violation of international law.
These remarks from the UN special rapporteur for Palestine were made following the passage of a law by Israel’s parliament on November 7, which permits the detention of Palestinian children under 14 years of age if they are convicted of murder related to “terrorism or terrorist activities.” For decades, as many as 700 Palestinian children have been taken each year, held captive by an unlawful occupation that perceives them as potential threats, Albanese noted on X.
She further remarked that international diplomacy has perpetuated the situation by “continuing to invoke the ‘resumption of negotiations’ between the ‘parties’ to ‘achieve a durable solution.’”
In a related context, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of at least 20 aid workers between October 10 and November 13, as reported by charitable organizations operating in the region.
The report indicated that “staff were killed in their homes, in displacement camps, and while delivering life-saving aid,” with many aid workers losing close family members. Among the deceased were four engineers and workers affiliated with an Oxfam partner, who were killed on October 19 while en route to repair water infrastructure in Khuza’a, east of Khan Younis. The report highlighted that their clearly-marked vehicle was attacked despite prior coordination with Israeli authorities.
Since the onset of Israel’s military operations in Gaza in October of last year, over 300 aid workers have lost their lives, marking the highest toll recorded in any single crisis globally.
Biden meets with families of American captives held by Hamas
The President of the United States provided an update regarding his administration’s initiatives aimed at securing the release of all hostages and reiterated his dedication to ensuring their safe return, as stated by the White House.
“The Administration has been working diligently to finalize an agreement as swiftly as possible to facilitate the return of the hostages, and the President has also reassured the families that these efforts will persist,” the White House remarked.
This meeting follows an earlier instance where President Biden refrained from responding to a reporter’s inquiry about the possibility of achieving a ceasefire and securing the return of Israeli captives from the Gaza Strip before the conclusion of his term.
In related developments, Israeli military forces have reportedly destroyed residential buildings located west of the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, according to reports from Al Jazeera Arabic. There have been no immediate reports of casualties.
UNSC condemns attacks against peacekeepers in Lebanon
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) called upon all parties involved in the conflict in Lebanon to take “all measures to respect the safety and security” of peacekeepers operating in the region. This appeal was made following a series of attacks that resulted in injuries to peacekeepers associated with the UN mission, known as UNIFIL, affecting its positions on October 29, November 7, and November 8. The council refrained from attributing responsibility for these attacks. Members of the UNSC emphasized that peacekeepers should never be targeted and reaffirmed their unwavering “support for UNIFIL,” highlighting its critical role in promoting regional stability. In recent weeks, UNIFIL has accused Israeli forces of intentionally assaulting its bases, which includes incidents of gunfire directed at peacekeepers and the destruction of observation posts. Notably, on November 7, Israeli forces reportedly utilized bulldozers and excavators to dismantle part of a UNIFIL installation in southern Lebanon. Additionally, Austria reported that eight of its peacekeepers sustained injuries from a rocket attack, likely launched by Hezbollah fighters, on October 29.