The Israeli military launched an airstrike on a building in Beirut’s southern suburbs on Tuesday, claiming the lives of at least four individuals. This attack was allegedly aimed at a Hezbollah militant group member. This event marked Israel’s return to striking the Lebanese capital after an earlier ceasefire in November concluded previous hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, within the besieged Gaza Strip, residents report increasing difficulty in accessing food, as numerous bakeries close due to shortages of flour and fuel. Israel maintains that during a six-week ceasefire with Hamas, sufficient food was delivered to support Gaza’s roughly 2 million Palestinians for an extended period. However, U.N. sources indicate critical stock shortages, expressing discrepancies with Israel’s assertions. Humanitarian organizations criticize Israel’s strict blockade policy, labeling it a potential war crime.
The United Nations has dismissed Israel’s suggestion that there is ample food in Gaza as “ridiculous.”According to U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric, the World Food Program is shutting its bakeries due to a lack of resources. Despite Israeli claims about food transfers during the ceasefire, Dujarric counters by emphasizing the well-maintained security records on U.N. aid.
In a tragic incident, it was reported that a young detainee from the West Bank, held in an Israeli prison, perished under unclear circumstances. This marks the first instance of a Palestinian minor dying in Israeli custody without formal charges, prompting further skepticism and calls for investigation into detention conditions.
Furthermore, Israel has facilitated the departure of hundreds of Palestinians from Gaza to Germany, marking the first official flight under a controversial plan for “voluntary departure.” This initiative, part of a more extensive scheme proposed by U.S. officials, remains contentious amongst Palestinians and rights advocates, who fear potential forced displacement.
In northern Gaza, Palestinians gathered at a U.N. warehouse to receive essential food aid as the blockade stretches into its fourth week. Nageya Gaballah, dependent on the U.N., shared her distress over surviving solely on aid due to unemployment, illustrating the dire situation for many families in the region.
Mohamed Salah Bardawil, a journalist tied to Hamas, was killed alongside his family in an Israeli strike on his home in Gaza. This incident adds to the alarming toll on journalists killed since hostilities began in October 2023.
While Israel contends that enough food was delivered to Gaza during the ceasefire, U.N. agencies and residents continue to highlight severe shortages. Fathers like Mohammed al-Kurd describe the daily struggle of telling their children to endure hunger due to an absence of bread, exacerbated by the Israeli blockade.
The World Food Program, facing depleted resources, has shuttered all its bakeries in Gaza. Despite efforts to optimize available supplies, aid workers are warning of severe hunger and malnutrition risks among the population.
On the political front, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu withdrew a contentious nomination for the head of the internal security agency amid criticism from allies and opponents. This decision follows the controversial dismissal of the existing security chief and amid broader political tensions within Israel.
Lastly, Israel reported intercepting a projectile from the Gaza Strip, prompting military responses. This exchange illustrates the continued tension since the ceasefire with Hamas ended, underscoring the enduring conflict between the two sides with ongoing attacks and casualties.