Deaths and Destruction in Gaza
Israeli airstrikes killed over 60 people in Gaza within 24 hours. Most casualties occurred in central Gaza, near Deir al-Balah. Strikes on a school in Nuseirat refugee camp left 10 people dead and many injured. Another attack in Khan Younis killed 10 people traveling in a vehicle. The bombings caused significant destruction, with emergency services struggling to manage the crisis.
UNESCO Site and Civilian Deaths in Lebanon
Israeli strikes targeted Baalbek, Lebanon, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its ancient Roman ruins. The attack resulted in 11 deaths and 14 injuries, according to Lebanese state media. For the first time in a week, Israeli forces also resumed attacks on southern Beirut.
Hezbollah Rocket Strikes and Civilian Impact
In northern Israel, rockets fired by Hezbollah killed seven people. Four Thai nationals died, and one was injured in Metula. Thailand’s foreign minister, Maris Sangiampongsa, expressed sorrow and called for peace. Rockets also killed three people in rural areas of Israel. Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency medical service, confirmed three people sustained minor injuries from shrapnel. Hezbollah’s rocket attacks have persisted since Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on October 7.
Ongoing Conflict and International Response
Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza has resulted in over 42,000 Palestinian deaths in the past year. Tensions escalated in Lebanon after Israel’s intensified airstrikes in late September. This escalation followed an Israeli operation that disabled communication devices to disrupt Hezbollah activities.
The U.S. has urged Lebanon’s government to declare a unilateral cease-fire with Israel. U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein encouraged Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati to engage in negotiations. However, Mikati blamed Israel for the failure of peace efforts. He stated that Israeli actions and diplomatic signals show resistance to proposed solutions and a preference for continued aggression.