A view shows Israeli artillery units at a position near Israel's border with Lebanon on Oct. 19, 2023. (Credit: Lisi Niesner/Reuters)
Catch up on our LIVE coverage of Day 13 of the Hamas-Israel war here.
One person was killed after heavy Israeli gunfire “surrounded” a group of journalists and civilians near Houla, a Lebanese town next to the southern border, yesterday evening, a Lebanese army source told L’Orient Today. The army source said that the situation had been “resolved” in coordination with UNIFIL, but that one person died in the incident. Later yesterday evening, UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti issued a statement, saying the Lebanese Army had “asked UNIFIL to assist seven individuals who were stuck near the Blue Line … during an intense exchange of fire across the Blue Line.” He said that following a request from UNIFIL, “the Israeli army ceased fire, which allowed the Lebanese army to successfully remove the individuals from the area.” Tenenti confirmed that one person had been killed.This morning, Hezbollah's media office “strongly condemned the new crime committed by the occupation forces [Israel] … against media professionals, which led to the martyrdom of a civilian.” Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, at least 22 people have been killed in related fighting on Lebanon’s southern border area. Most of those killed have been combatants, but the toll includes at least four civilians and a Reuters journalist. On the Israeli side, at least three people have been killed.
The Lebanese caretaker cabinet approved a plan to sustain operation of the country's key infrastructure including bridges, ports and the Beirut international airport, if the country’s security situation deteriorates. Caretaker Information Minister Ziad Makaryi told L'Orient Today that the discussions focused on potential coordination between Lebanese authorities and the UN to implement the plan in question. The Rmeish, Nabatieh municipality set up a field hospital as part of a wider emergency plan in case of a “major conflict,” municipality head Milad al-Alam told L’Orient Today. Several residents of Rmeish in southern Lebanon evacuated after Israeli shells targeted the town’s outskirts.
“We have no plans to leave,” United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) spokesman Andrea Tenenti told L'Orient Today, describing a “tense and volatile” situation along the Lebanon-Israel border. “We are operational 24/7, continuing our dialogue with the parties to de-escalate the situation, and our troops are monitoring the Blue Line,” Tenenti continued. Hezbollah yesterday attacked five positions along the southern Lebanese border, claiming to have destroyed Israeli army equipment. Hezbollah said it targeted Manara, Jall al-Alam, al-Bahri, Zarayit, Shomera Camp, and an observation tower in Habib al-Bustan. The Israeli army said it retaliated at the launch sites of 20 rockets from Lebanon, while Haaretz and Sky News reported that sirens sounded in northern Israel. Earlier yesterday, Tenenti told L'Orient Today that an exchange of fire was ongoing in Aitaroun in southern Lebanon. The southern Lebanese towns of Mays al-Jabal, Ras al-Naqoura, al-Labuneh, and the outskirts of Alma al-Shaab also faced Israeli shelling, the state-run National News Agency reported.
The US and Germany called on their citizens to urgently leave Lebanon, echoing warnings from other diplomatic missions. The same day, Australia and Britain urged against all travel to Lebanon. On Wednesday, the British Embassy in Lebanon temporarily evacuated staff and their families, while France, the US, Australia, Sweden and Germany issued warnings to their citizens about the country’s security situation. Canada’s statement to its citizens cited fears of a potential interruption to commercial aviation.
Up to 20 trucks will be allowed to enter Gaza through the Rafah border crossing in the first aid shipment since Israel blocked access to electricity, water, fuel and food. Security sources told Reuters that machinery to repair roads was dispatched to the Rafah crossing in preparation for aid transfers after repeated Israeli bombardment of the only access to Gaza it does not control. “The destruction [in Gaza] requires a massive aid operation,” said Tamer Qarmout from the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, describing the limited aid allowed after two weeks of attacks on 2.8 million people as “a sick joke.” The World Health Organization said it would supply five trucks of medical supplies while noting that the aid allowed into Gaza was insufficient and urging Israel to allow fuel to enter the enclave. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that it was unclear when their aid would be allowed to enter Gaza, while expressing hope it would happen today. A Palestinian Health Ministry spokesperson said 14 health facilities have stopped operating due to fuel shortages while four others were closed by Israeli bombardment. The UN relief chief says Gaza requires 100 trucks of humanitarian aid per day to enter via the Rafah crossing.
The Gaza Health Ministry stated that 3,785 people have been killed by Israeli strikes since Oct. 7. Yesterday, Israeli bombing that destroyed five bakeries in Gaza killed dozens of people and injured hundreds, the Palestinian WAFA news agency reported. Hamas announced that Israeli airstrikes killed Jehad Mheisen, who headed its National Security Forces, and Jamila al-Shantee, the first woman to be elected to the group’s political bureau. Sixteen Palestinian journalists have been killed in the war in Gaza since Israel began bombarding the coastal enclave, the Palestinian journalists' union said Thursday.
British and Israeli Prime Ministers Rishi Sunak and Benjamin Netanyahu agreed on the “need to prevent any regional escalation” after a meeting in Israel. Sunak made no mention of a cease-fire and said he wants Israel to “win.” He also told Israeli president Isaac Herzog it is “important” for Gaza to receive humanitarian aid. The British premier is also scheduled to meet with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. Sunak’s visit follows US President Joe Biden’s trip to Israel, during which he expressed his country’s support for Israel and pledged aid for Israelis and Palestinians. The Israeli Defense Ministry yesterday announced the arrival of a US shipment of armored vehicles “to replace vehicles damaged during the war.”
In case you missed it, here’s our must-read story from yesterday: “Mansourieh residents recount deadly apartment building collapse”
Compiled by Abbas Mahfouz