Gaza, 9-26-24

For today, links to nine reports: from Reuters, Middle East Eye, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from the Middle East Institute and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM   

   

Israeli airstrike kills 20 in Lebanon. From AP. Nineteen Syrian refugees and a Lebanese national were killed in northeast Lebanon after an Israeli airstrike destroyed a building housing workers, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said today. State-run National News Agency . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Israel rejects U.S.-backed Lebanon ceasefire proposal, by Timour Azhari and James Mackenzie | Reuters  Israel rejected proposals today for a ceasefire with Hezbollah, defying allies including the United States, which had called for an immediate three-week halt in fighting to allow for diplomacy to avert a wider war. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Middle East Eye.

    –

Partner in Israeli government threatens to quit if permanent cease-fire is reached with Hezbollah, by Bassem Mroue and Melanie Lidman | AP   TEL AVIV — A far-right partner in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has threatened to quit the coalition if a permanent cease-fire is reached with Hezbollah. Itamar Ben-Gvir, head of the Jewish Power party . . . READ MORE . . .

   

More than 22,000 people cross to Syria amid Israeli strikes on Lebanon: Syrian security forces. From AFP. Syrian security sources said more than 22,000 people had crossed from Lebanon into Syria via two of the countries’ border crossings this week, as Israeli air strikes pound Lebanon. READ MORE . . .

   

Israel’s Netanyahu appears to downplay hopes for a cease-fire as deadly strikes continue in Lebanon. From AP. The Israeli prime minister has appeared to downplay hopes of an imminent truce with Hezbollah after the U.S. and its allies called for an “immediate” 21-day ceasefire to “provide space for diplomacy”. In a statement released today as . . . READ MORE . . .

   

FROM SEPT. 25  Israel is preparing for a ground invasion into southern Lebanon, it says. Reported by Kat Lonsdorf | NPR  Israel is moving two brigades north amid fears of a ground operation in southern Lebanon. It has conducted thousands of airstrikes in Lebanon and Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets at Israel. Click HERE to listen and read.

   

FROM SEPT. 25  Many casualties of Israeli airstrikes were civilians, Lebanon health minister says. Reported by Matt Ozug, Juana Summers and Patrick Jarenwattananon | NPR  Lebanon Health Minister Firass Abiad decribes how his hospital system is coping with some of the deadliest airstrikes the country has seen in decades. Click HERE to listen and read.

   

FROM SEPT. 25  NPR visits Lebanon’s hospitals in remote area that are filling with wounded people. Reported by Jane Arraf | NPR  In Lebanon, Israel launched more air strikes in a new front in the war with the militant group Hezbollah. Hezbollah took a group of journalists to the Bekka Valley, where Israel has been attacking. Click HERE to listen and read.

   

FROM SEPT. 24  The war comes to Lebanon. Patricia Karam, Nimrod Goren, Charles Lister and Brian Katulis of the Middle East Institute assess aspects of Israel’s attacks in Lebanon. READ MORE . . .

   

The hypocrisy of the humanitarian paradigm, by Ramona Wadi | Middle East Monitor  Israel has invaded Lebanon on at least five occasions since the late seventies, not including numerous air strikes. Now diplomats are revealing that the genocide is Gaza is only the beginning of the chaos in the Middle East. The humanitarian paradigm is the only way for them . . . READ MORE . . .