Blinken warns war could 'metastasize'; Netanyahu threatens Hezbollah: Israel-Hamas war, day 93

Thank you for following our LIVE coverage of day 93 of the Israel-Hamas war. We will be back tomorrow with more news updates.

Qatar's prime minister said today that the killing of a Hamas leader by an Israeli drone strike in Beirut last week has affected Doha's ability to mediate between Hamas and Israel, according to Reuters.

However, the Gulf state will continue its efforts, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said in a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Doha.

"More than 10 children a day, on average, have lost one or both legs in Gaza since the conflict broke out three months ago," said Save the Children, calling for a "definitive ceasefire."

Read our article on Save the Children's latest report on the situation of children in Gaza here.

The Israel-Hamas war could "metastasize" in the region, warned US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a press conference in Doha today. 

During a visit to Qatar today, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken commented on the deaths of two Al Jazeera journalists killed in an Israeli strike on the Gaza Strip.

"I am deeply sorry ... This is an unimaginable tragedy," said Blinken of the deaths and the innocent Palestinian lives lost [in the war].

Israeli military chief of staff Herzl Halevi said that the army will be "fighting in Gaza all year round, that's for sure," according to Haaretz.

During a situational assessment held at the Israeli army central command, Halevi said that 2024 will be a challenging year.

Halevi also referred to the fighting against Hezbollah in the north and said that it was the organization that decided to enter the war, and that the Israeli military "charges it ever-increasing prices."

According to Halevi, the fighting will end only when residents of the north can return home safely.

He explained that there are two options for residents to be able to return to their homes: By the fact that the pressure exerted by the army "will do the job and create a completely different reality," or during war.

He added that if there is a war in Lebanon, "we will do it with distinction, even though we are already after a long fight, and challenges in many arenas. We will know how to do it excellently."

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said today that it was "imperative" that Israel do more to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza, who must be able to "return home."

"Palestinian civilians must be able to return home as soon as conditions permit," he said in Doha, alongside Qatari Prime Minister Mohammad ben Abdelrahman Al-Thani, as part of a new tour of Arab countries and Israel.

Israeli police announced today that they shot a Palestinian child at a checkpoint while attempting to stop a ram-car attack in the occupied West Bank, with medics later saying that a three-year-old girl had died, according to AFP.

"After shooting at the 'terrorists,' a little girl who was in another vehicle at the checkpoint was injured," Israeli police said. Israel's emergency services, Magen David Adom, said a three-year-old "was pronounced dead" after being examined.

In the evening, flight information screens at Beirut International Airport (BIA) were hacked, with a message addressed to Hezbollah and its Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah.

The text read: "If Lebanon is drawn into war, you will take responsibility."

Above the text were the logos of a group called "Saheb el-Kalam," and "Soldiers of God" (Jnoud el-Rabb), a Christian extremist group based in Beirut.

Click here to read what we know about the hacking so far. 

The Israeli army said Hezbollah's Saturday attack caused significant damage to the Meron Air Force base, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, whose country is Israel's leading political and military supporter, held talks near Doha with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.

The wealthy Gulf state, where Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is based, played a key role in negotiating a week-long ceasefire in Gaza, and the release of Palestinian hostages and prisoners at the end of November.

"Negotiations between the Qataris, Israel and Hamas concerning the release of hostages in Gaza are continuing," a well-informed source told AFP.

At the funeral in Rafah of his son Hamza, killed earlier in the day, Al Jazeera's Gaza bureau chief Waal Dahdouh declared that "the world should see with two eyes, not with one Israeli eye. It should see everything that is happening to the Palestinian people ... but the world is turning a blind eye to what is happening in the Gaza Strip."

In the photo, Hamza Wael Dahdouh's widow and her father mourn him at his funeral in Rafah, Jan. 7, 2024. (Credit: AFP)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened Hezbollah at a cabinet meeting, according to Haaretz.

"The war must not stop until we have achieved all our objectives: To eliminate Hamas, to recover all our hostages and to ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel," Netanyahu said.

He went on to say that "Hezbollah will learn what Hamas has already learned in recent months: No terrorist is safe. We are determined to defend our citizens and ensure that the people of the North return to their homes in safety."

In a press release, Hezbollah announced that, at 5 p.m., it targeted Israeli soldiers deployed near the Ya'ra barracks (opposite the Lebanese town Alma al Shaab, in the Sour  district, "with missiles."

Two missiles fired by an Israeli drone fell on the outskirts of Tayr Harfa in the Sour district, local residents told our correspondent.

A house in the locality of Kfar Kila in Marjayoun district, located close to the border wall, was hit by an Israeli artillery shell, residents reported to L'Orient-Le Jour. No one was injured as the house is currently uninhabited. 

The Israeli army shelled the south Lebanese border villages Tayr Harfa and Yarin in the Sour district, residents of the village told L'Orient-Le Jour.

Hezbollah announces three attacks which took place at 4 p.m. against an Israeli position facing the south Lebanese border village of Marwahin, another one against an Israeli brigade facing the south Lebanese border village Markaba and a third one using Burkan-2 rockets against the Israeli position of Zar'it and said they "directly hit the target."

The Israeli army bombed the outskirts of the south Lebanon border villages of Naqoura and Shihine in Sour district, residents of the villages told L'Orient-Le Jour.

Hezbollah announces that it targeted an Israeli position facing the south Lebanese border village Markaba at 4 p.m. and said they "directly hit the target."

Al Jazeera accused the Israeli army today of targeting Palestinian journalists in Gaza, after two journalists working for the Qatar-based satellite channel were killed in a strike attributed to Israel.

Hamza Wael Dahdouh, the son of Al Jazeera's Gaza bureau chief Wael al-Dahdouh, and Moustafa Thuraya, a freelance videographer working with AFP, were killed on Sunday while driving in Rafah, on the southern tip of the Palestinian territory.

Hezbollah announces that it targeted Israeli soldiers in the Israeli village of Metula at 4:p.m. and claimed they inflicted casualties.

Hezbollah announces that it targeted"with kornet missiles" an Israeli tank facing the south Lebanese border village Mais al-Jabal at 3:30 p.m. and claimed they inflicted casualties.

Phosphorus weapons are being used by Israel right now in Khiam, the head of the Civil Defense of the village told L'Orient-Le Jour.

The smoke derived from the weapons blocked the view for the residents of the village. He added that there are 10 phosphorus shots fired at the village.

Hezbollah announced that it attacked an Israeli position in the disputed Shebaa farms at 3:05 p.m. and said they "directly hit the target."

"The reality where the citizens of Northern Israel cannot return to their homes - requires an urgent solution," Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz writes on the social media platform X.

Accusing Hezbollah of having "initiated the escalation" on Israel-Lebanon border, Gantz continued, "Israel is interested in a diplomatic solution, but if one cannot be found - Israel and the IDF [Israeli army] will remove the threat."

Hezbollah announces that it targeted at 1:45 p.m. an Israeli brigade in the Israeli village of Manara and says it "directly hit the target."

Seven Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the West Bank city of Jenin overnight Saturday into Sunday, Haaretz reports, citing the Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah. Earlier reports said six Palestinians had been killed in the strike.

The Israeli army bombed the outskirts of the south Lebanon border village of Houla (Marjayoun) minutes ago, residents of the village tell L'Orient Today.

The chairman of Hezbollah's Executive Council, Hashem Safieddine, says his party's attack on an Israeli airbase in Meron yesterday is just the first of many attacks it will carry out in response to the assassination of Hamas No. 2 Saleh al-Arouri in the southern suburbs of Beirut on Tuesday.

During a commemoration of the death of one of Hezbollah's fighters in Burj al-Chamali, Safieddine said that "there will be other responses, and the enemy should wait for it."

Safieddine also said that the targeting of the airbase is a response and a "direct message" to the drones that attacked Beirut's southern suburbs.

Gaza death toll update: The Health Ministry in the Hamas-run enclave says 22,835 Palestinians have so far been killed in the war that began on Oct. 7, AFP reports.

Israeli planes broke the sound barrier over villages in the Bint Jbeil district, causing the windows of some houses in Tibnin and adjacent villages to shatter, residents of the area tell L'Orient Today.

The head of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc, Mohamad Raad, said that his party would not discuss any proposals by foreign diplomats before there is a cease-fire in Gaza and Lebanon.

"Our stance is clear, which is that we will not discuss any of the things they [foreign delegates] are proposing unless they manage to pressure the enemy to stop its aggression on Lebanon and Gaza."

The EU's top diplomat, Josep Borell, arrived in Lebanon yesterday as part of his visit to the region.

AFP reports that, according to medics and the Gaza Health Ministry, the two journalists killed by an Israeli airstrike were Mustafa Thuria, a video stringer for the news agency, and another journalist, Hamza Wael Dahdouh. AFP adds that the journalists were traveling in a car at the time of the strike.

BREAKING: The Gaza Health Ministry says two journalists have been killed in an Israeli strike, AFP reports.

Israeli artillery fired three shells at al-Hamam hill, south of the town of Khiam (Marjayoun), according to local residents' accounts gathered by our correspondent in the area.

Jordan's King Abdullah has warned US Secretary of State Antony Blinken of the "catastrophic repercussions" of the continuation of Israel's military campaign in Gaza, Reuters reports, citing a palace statement.

The monarch also told Blinken that Washington has a major role to play to put pressure on Israel to agree to an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, the statement adds.

An Israeli civilian has been shot dead in the occupied West Bank, AFP reports, citing the Israeli army.

The civilian was "killed adjacent to the British police junction" north of Ramallah, the army said, adding police were searching for the attacker.

The Israeli army has struck an area around the south Lebanon villages of Majdil Zoun and Jibbayn in Sour district, residents of the villages tell L'Orient Today.

The deputy head of Hezbollah's executive bureau, Ali Daamoushi, said in a statement that the party "will continue its presence to protect Lebanon and to prevent the enemy from perpetrating more crimes." Daamoushi also said that his party "will not accept forcing new rules that would enable the enemy to go too far in its crimes and violations." The official's comments came as he addressed a ceremony to commemorate one of the party's members in Adloun, Saida.

According to the Axios news outlet, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Ben Abdulrahman al-Thani met yesterday with the families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, after the relatives of at least six abductees visited Doha on Friday to try to restart negotiations.

Citing a Qatari official and an Israeli source, Axios reports that Thani told the families that talks with Hamas have been complicated by the assassination in Beirut on Tuesday of Hamas No. 2 Saleh al-Arouri and several other leading members of the movement. Israel is accused of carrying out the fatal strike in the Lebanese capital.

Residents of the south Lebanon border village of Ramyeh (Bint Jbeil) tell L'Orient Today they have been hearing continuous machine-gun fire coming from the outskirts of the village.

The Israeli army shelled the south Lebanon border villages of Yaroun and Blida in Bint Jbeil district about an hour ago, a security source tells L'Orient Today.

The Israeli army shelled the outskirts of the south Lebanon border village of Aitaroun (Bint Jbeil) around 8 a.m, residents of the village tell L'Orient Today.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken continues his intense diplomatic efforts in the Middle East today as he seeks to avoid a regional expansion of the conflict in the Gaza Strip. He is due to hold talks with Jordan's King Abdullah II today, according to AFP. More details here.

Image: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken walks with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, during Blinken's week-long trip aimed at calming tensions across the Middle East, in Amman, Jordan, Jan. 7, 2024. (Credit: Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/Reuters)

Overnight update from south Lebanon:

* The Israeli army shelled the outskirts of the south Lebanon border village of Khiam (Marjayoun) at 9 p.m., a security source tells L'Orient-Le Jour. Following this shelling, relative calm prevailed into the night.

* Hezbollah released a statement at around 10 p.m. warning residents of border villages to avoid going to the sites of Israeli strikes in their immediate aftermath. The statement asks residents to leave this job to first responders, as it says the Israeli army sometimes bombs the same area several times consecutively.

* Hezbollah announced seven attacks yesterday. In one of these, on Israel's Meron air surveillance base, it said it launched 62 missiles.

* A medical source told L'Orient-Le Jour that two civilians were injured due to an Israeli strike that targeted a house in Ainata (Bint Jbeil).

Israeli aircraft fired on Palestinian militants who had attacked troops in the occupied West Bank this morning, the military said, and officials in the West Bank said six Palestinians were killed in the airstrike, Reuters reports.

Meanwhile, an Israeli border police officer was killed and others wounded when their vehicle was hit by an explosive device during operations in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, the military and police say, according to the news agency. Click here for more details.

Image: Palestinians stand at the site where Palestinian authorities said an Israeli airstrike killed six men, near Jenin in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Jan. 7, 2024. (Credit: Raneen Sawafta/Reuters)

Israel's army claimed late yesterday that it had "completed the dismantling of the Hamas military framework in the northern Gaza Strip" and its forces would now focus on central and southern areas of the territory. Click here to catch up on the latest developments.

Good morning, 

Thank you for joining our live coverage of day 93 of the Israel-Hamas war and related developments in south Lebanon, the occupied West Bank and the wider region.