
9 days · 6 summary articles
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared on Wednesday that Israel will not withdraw its troops from occupied zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza under any circumstances, reaffirming a long-term military presence in the regions . The announcement came as Israeli airstrikes injured several people in southern Lebanon, amid ongoing violations of a ceasefire agreement .
In Gaza, the Israeli military conducted its first airstrike in nine days on Tuesday, targeting a Hamas commander accused of planning attacks against Israeli forces. The strike critically wounded a Palestinian man, according to military statements . On Wednesday, the military confirmed the killing of Muhammad Sada, an alleged member of the al-Qassam Brigades, in northern Gaza .
Meanwhile, in the occupied West Bank, Israeli settlers have besieged three Palestinian families in the village of Qusra since Sunday, blocking roads and cutting off water and electricity to their homes. Yousef Hassan, one of the besieged residents, said settlers threw stones, used obscene language and prevented medical care, including blocking an ambulance from reaching his two-year-old daughter, who fell ill with vomiting and a high fever. The girl and her mother were evacuated on Tuesday . An Israeli military spokesperson said commanders were “gravely concerned” and that soldiers supporting the settlers would face disciplinary action, though no timeline for lifting the siege was provided .
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned Israel’s actions in southern Lebanon, stating that the systematic destruction of homes and infrastructure violates international law. His remarks followed Katz’s announcement that Israel would maintain troops in a security zone in southern Lebanon and destroy all houses in the area .
The U.S. sent diplomatic messages to Israel demanding immediate explanations over the settler violence in Qusra, with senior American officials expressing shock and questioning whether Israeli authorities have lost control of security forces in the occupied territory .
Israel and Lebanon have agreed on Britain, Italy, Switzerland and Indonesia as potential contributors to a proposed mechanism for verifying Hezbollah’s disarmament, according to sources familiar with U.S.-mediated talks in Rome last week .
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