People mourn three Lebanese girls and their grandmother who were killed by an Israeli strike on their car on Sunday, during their funeral in the southern town of Blida on Nov. 7, 2023. (Credit: Zohra Bensemra/Reuters)
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Catch up on yesterday’s LIVE coverage of Day 32 of the Israel-Hamas war here.
Hundreds of people in Blida yesterday attended the funerals of a woman and three of her grandchildren, all of whom were killed by an Israeli strike on their car on Sunday. Hezbollah MP Ali Fayyad said the party “will respond double to any aggression that targets civilians.” Sirens sounded yesterday in northern Israel, and the Israeli military reported the launch of several rockets across the border. Israeli shelling of southern Lebanon yesterday hit the areas of Aita al-Shaab, Boustan, Dhayra, Haddatha, Jebbin, LitaniValley, Marwahine, Mhaibab, Naqoura, Ramieh, Tayr Harfa, Tiri and Yarin. Israel said it was firing at Hezbollah targets and suspected missile sites.
Restoring calm to Lebanon’s southern border is of “the utmost importance” to the US, American envoy Amos Hochstein said during a visit to Beirut yesterday. Hochstein met with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. “Neither Lebanon nor Israel want escalation,” Hochstein said. Later in the day, Reuters quoted Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant saying Israel has “no interest in war with Hezbollah.” Israeli officials have made numerous such statements while tempering them with warnings of the damage Lebanon would incur in case of an escalation. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said Hezbollah would be making the “mistake of its life” should the group get involved in the war.
Lebanon’s caretaker cabinet approved an $11 million loan to the Health Ministry “to cover the costs of care for the wounded in case of war,” caretaker Health Minister Firass Abiad said. Abiad toured hospitals in southern Lebanon, where health-care personnel are mobilized as part of a series of war-preparedness measures. There are 300 primary care centers for displaced persons throughout Lebanon, according to Abiad. The emergency number established for the needs of displaced people is 1787.
At least 10,328 people, including 4,237 children, have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, according to Gaza Health Ministry figures cited by AFP. Continuing their ground invasion, Israeli forces encircled Gaza City yesterday while hundreds of thousands of civilians remained there. By evening, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was saying, “We are in the heart of Gaza City,” AFP reported. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there is no intention to stop fighting, despite the repeated and multiplying pleas for a pause in hostilities from the UN, foreign officials and international organizations. Gallant seconded Netanyahu’s statement, saying fighting will not stop until Hamas frees the hostages abducted on Oct. 7. Hamas’s armed wing, al-Qassam Brigades, earlier in the day said it was ready to free 12 foreign hostages, but they have been “prevented” from doing so because of the Israeli offensive and the situation on the ground “threatening [the hostages’] lives.” Hundreds of foreign nationals continue to be evacuated from the enclave. The fuel blockade on Gaza and limited supplies have impaired the functioning of the hospitals that remain operational, while bombardments and shortages have forced at least 16 of the 35 hospitals in the Strip to shut down.
In case you missed it, here’s our must-read story from yesterday: “No, Lebanon’s 2023 conflict isn’t like 2006. Here’s why”
Compiled by Abbas Mahfouz
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