Ceasefire dreams seem to be slipping away 😔 as Israel ramps up its airstrikes in Gaza and Lebanon. Friday saw intensified bombing, leaving communities devastated and hope fading fast.
Medics in the Gaza Strip reported at least 68 people lost their lives 💔 overnight due to Israeli airstrikes in areas like Deir Al-Balah and Khan Younis. The Israeli military announced they had targeted and killed senior Hamas official Izz al-Din Kassab in Khan Younis.
Meanwhile, U.S. envoys have been hustling to broker ceasefires ✌️ on both fronts ahead of the big U.S. presidential election next Tuesday. But Hamas isn't on board with a temporary truce, declaring that the proposals don't meet their conditions for ending the year-long war in Gaza and withdrawing Israeli forces.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made his stance clear, emphasizing that his priority is to enforce security \"despite any pressure or constraints.\" Israel continues its military offensives against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Friday's strikes hit hard 💥, with Israeli forces targeting central Gaza, leading to tragic losses. A strike at a school sheltering displaced Palestinians in Nuseirat resulted in 14 deaths, according to medics. The situation is dire, and the heads of UN humanitarian agencies described conditions in north Gaza as \"apocalyptic\" 😱, with the entire population at imminent risk.
Lebanon wasn't spared either. Israel pummeled Beirut's southern suburbs with at least 10 strikes, marking the first bombardment in nearly a week. Evacuation orders were issued for 10 neighborhoods in the Lebanese capital.
\"This is a brutal war and Israel does not have the right to do this… There must be a limit put for Israel because it does not abide by any of the laws or human morality,\" said Hassan Saad, a resident of Beirut.
The ongoing hostilities have dashed hopes for a truce before the upcoming U.S. presidential election. Hamas maintains that the ceasefire proposals are insufficient, not addressing key issues like withdrawal of Israeli troops and the return of displaced people.
Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati accused Israel of blocking progress in negotiations, citing Israeli stubbornness in rejecting proposed solutions.
Hezbollah began firing rockets at Israel in solidarity with Palestinians a day after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in around 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 hostages taken back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel's retaliatory offensives have been devastating, reportedly killing more than 43,000 Palestinians 💔 and reducing much of Gaza to rubble. Lebanon's health ministry reported that at least 2,897 people have been killed in Lebanon.
As tensions escalate, the hope for peace seems distant. The world watches as the situation unfolds, yearning for a resolution that can bring an end to the suffering and restore hope to the region.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
