A man gestures as flames rise in a field near the border village of Burj Al-Mamluk in southern Lebanon's Khiam plain following Israeli bombardment on Nov. 9, 2023. (Credit: Hassan Fneich/AFP)
Here’s what happened yesterday and what to expect today, Friday, Nov. 10.
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Catch up on yesterday’s LIVE coverage of the Israel-Hamas war here.
Hezbollah Central Council Member Sheikh Nabil Kaouk said the party will continue its operations for “as long as the aggression against Gaza continues” amid ongoing cross-border clashes at Lebanon’s southern border. Hezbollah announced it shelled Metula and later said it killed and injured Israeli soldiers during an attack on two Israeli military Merkava tanks. The residents of Khiam said around 25 white phosphorus shells fell in several areas of the town and in the eastern outskirts of Qlaya. Israeli artillery shelling also targeted Aita al-Shaab, Beit Lif, Hebbarieh, Houla, Markaba, Ramieh, Ramaya and Rmaish. Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz said Israel is “determined to protect” its border with Lebanon “on both sides if necessary.” US Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues David Satterfield warned of “the potential for miscalculation” in Hezbollah’s cross-border attacks.
Hezbollah’s Parliamentary Bloc urged for a solution to avoid a power vacuum within the leadership of the Lebanese Army ahead of the end of Commander-In-Chief Joseph Aoun’s term on Jan. 10. No decision has yet been made over whether Aoun's term will be extended, as proposed by the Lebanese Forces, or replaced, as the Free Patriotic Movement is eager to do. Many consider Aoun to be a potential contender for the presidency, which he claims to “not care about,” though his active military status constitutionally prevents his accession to the post. Hezbollah’s statement also called for a rapid solution to the presidential vacuum, ongoing for over a year, and expressed concern over the dwindling number of Higher Judicial Council members. In tandem with the ongoing lack of a president, many key government posts were also vacated with no clear successors, leaving active directors in the stead of the central bank and General Security.
Gaza's Health Ministry said 10,812 Palestinians, including 4,412 children, have been killed in Gaza since the war started on Oct. 7. The White House announced the start of daily four-hour humanitarian pauses to facilitate evacuations from northern Gaza, of which civilians would be notified three hours in advance. Biden reiterated there is “no possibility” for a ceasefire and Israeli officials emphasized these pauses should not be confused with one. Doctors Without Borders's chief said there are no safe zones in Gaza and that some 30 percent of people killed in Gaza were killed in the South. Palestinian Islamic Jihad said it is willing to release two Israeli hostages for “humanitarian” reasons “when the security conditions on the ground are met.” This came as Hamas’ al-Qassam Brigades announced that Israeli bombardment killed one hostage and injured another. CIA and the Mossad chiefs met with the Qatari prime minister in Doha to discuss a hostage release deal as well as the entry of fuel into Gaza. At least 10 Palestinians were killed Thursday in an Israeli raid on Jenin in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Health Ministry stated.
The Lebanese Health Ministry issued a series of recommendations to aid people exposed to white phosphorus after Israel used the banned incendiary weapon in its attacks on southern Lebanon. First responders must wear special gear and evacuate the affected person from the contaminated site. In case of skin burns, the ministry recommends keeping the affected area moist and using high-pressure water to clear contaminants. In case of inhalation, rescuers may need to apply artificial breathing and use an oxygen machine. If the eyes are affected, one should rinse their eyes with copious amounts of water for 15 minutes, wet compresses should be applied for an extended period, and any oily substances should be avoided. Contaminated clothing must be discarded in a double-sealed bag and rescuers must remove any phosphorus particles in water. At the end of October, Lebanon tasked its mission to the United Nations with filing a complaint against Israel, accusing it of using white phosphorus in its strikes on South Lebanon.
In case you missed it, here’s our must-read story from yesterday: “In South Lebanon, a month of unnamed war”
Compiled by Abbas Mahfouz
CORRECTION: The initial publication of yesterday’s Morning Brief incorrectly attributed Amnesty International to a preliminary report on the death of Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah. The report in fact belongs to Reporters Without Borders.