Blinken: Israel agrees in principle to UN mission to northern Gaza: Day 95 of the Hamas-Israel war.

Thank you for following our LIVE coverage of day 95 of the Israel-Hamas war. We will be back tomorrow with more news updates.

Jordan is hosting a meeting on Wednesday between King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, to discuss "dangerous developments" in Gaza and the "situation in the occupied West Bank," the Jordanian royal palace has announced, reports AFP.

The tripartite summit will be held in the southern city of Aqaba as part of Jordan's "efforts to coordinate Arab positions to obtain an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid," according to a statement.

King Abdullah II had called on the US on Sunday to put pressure on Israel to obtain an "immediate ceasefire," stressing in particular the need to put an end to the "tragic humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip," when he received the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, on a tour of the region.

Israel accepts the principle of a UN assessment mission on the situation in the northern Gaza Strip to consider the return of Palestinians displaced by the war, US diplomatic chief Antony Blinken said in Tel Aviv, AFP reports.

"We agreed today on a plan for the United Nations to conduct an assessment mission, which will determine what needs to be done to enable displaced Palestinians to return safely to their homes in northern Gaza," he told reporters after talks with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Blinken also urged Israel to "stop taking steps that undermine the Palestinians' ability to govern themselves."

"Israel must be a partner to Palestinian leaders who want to lead their people to live in peace [alongside] Israel, as neighbors," the US official said.

A meeting between caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdallah Bou Habib and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock scheduled for today was canceled "due to reasons beyond our control," the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign affairs said in a statement.

According to the spokesperson of the German embassy in Beirut, the German Minister of Foreign affairs has already arrived in Beirut.

Al-Manar's correspondent Ali Shoeib stated on X (formerly Twitter) that after Israeli forces "failed to burn the Raheb forest, on the outskirts of the town of Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil district,) by targeting it with flares and intense strikes, attempting to uproot the trees. The Israeli soldiers ... extended plastic pipes, 200 meters in length, from the site towards the forest with the help of a large drone. They then threw it onto the tree branches and filled it with benzene after creating openings in the pipes [one opening every meter] to drip the benzene in preparation for burning the forest. However, a Lebanese Army force quickly intervened to dismantle these pipes and neutralize their effect."

British government lawyers believe that Israel has not violated international law in Gaza, diplomatic chief David Cameron said on Tuesday, still expressing concern about the military operation carried out in retaliation for the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, AFP reported.

"The short answer to that question is no," said the former prime minister, after being asked by an MP on the Foreign Affairs Committee whether he had received legal advice that Israel had acted contrary to international law.

Here's what happened in south Lebanon in the past hour:

Israel fired flares above Naqoura and Dhayra, both located in the Sour district, residents told L'Orient Today.

Heavy machine guns from the Israeli site of Jardah, near Dhayra, was fired towards Lebanon.

A man walks next to a destroyed car following an overnight Israeli raid on the Tulkarm refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, on Jan. 9, 2024, amid Israel-Hamas war. (Credit: Zain Jaafar/AFP)

Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that they will "change the situation on the northern front with Lebanon to ensure the return of Israelis," Al Arabiya reported.

Air France plans to resume service to Tel Aviv on Jan. 24, suspended since the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, reports AFP.

"Air France plans to resume flights between Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle and Tel Aviv from Jan. 24, with three flights a week on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays," the airline said. 

A house in Blida (Marjayoun district) was targeted by two shells fired from an Israeli tank, as reported by a security source to our correspondent. The attack did not cause any injuries.

The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that its ability to assist the residents of Gaza is "diminishing" as a "humanitarian disaster" unfolds, according to AFP.

"We are witnessing this humanitarian disaster unfolding before our eyes. We see the health system collapsing very rapidly," said Sean Casey, an emergency teams coordinator for WHO, via video conference from Gaza.

"What we continue to see is a huge number of casualties from the fighting, such as injuries from shrapnel, bullets and being crushed in collapsing buildings — this continues to happen every day," he said.

The Palestinian Authority has accused Israeli security forces of deliberately running over the body of a man during a military operation in the occupied West Bank, calling it a "brutal crime," reports AFP.

A video widely circulated on social networks shows a military vehicle stopping in front of an inanimate body before restarting and driving over it.

Read more here.

Hezbollah has announced the death of one of its fighters, Ali Hussein Bourji, from the village of Markaba in southern Lebanon. 

Hezbollah did not specify the date and time of death, but a security source told our correspondent that the fighter was killed by an Israeli drone strike on a car near the funeral of Hezbollah commander Wissam Tawil in Khirbet Silm (Bint Jbeil district).

This is the fourth death announced by Hezbollah today. Since the start of the crossfire on Oct. 8, 158 Hezbollah fighters have been killed by Israel.

Here's what happened in south Lebanon in the last 30 minutes:

Two interceptor missiles exploded above the town of Blida (Marjayoun district,) local residents told our correspondent. An hour earlier, the Israeli army reported the infiltration of hostile aircraft from Lebanon in the same area, on their side of the border.

Shortly after, the hills of Oueida near Adaisseh (Marjayoun district) and the outskirts of Taybeh (Marjayoun region) were targeted by an Israeli army raid, as reported by residents and eyewitnesses.

According to a security source, an Israeli drone fired a missile within the vicinity of the town of Ghandourieh (Bint Jbeil district). Eyewitnesses reported seeing emergency responders dispatched to the area.

Smoke billows following an Israeli air strike on the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila near the border with Israel on January 9, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border tensions as fighting continues between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza.

(Photo by HASSAN FNEICH / AFP)

The Israeli artillery has shelled the outskirts of Mays al-Jabal (Marjayoun district), according to accounts from residents collected by our correspondent. Shortly before, reconnaissance planes had been heard and seen by residents contacted by L'Orient Today above the region.

In South Lebanon, during the past hour:

- Israeli artillery has shelled the outskirts of the town of Alma el-Shaab (Tyr district), according to accounts from residents collected by our correspondent in the region.

- An Israeli drone also fired a missile on the outskirts of Labbouneh (same district), according to other accounts from residents.

- Finally, according to Haaretz, an Israeli army spokesperson stated that a "hostile aircraft" had fallen in an uninhabited area near the Israeli locality of Yiftah, opposite the Lebanese town of Blida (Marjeyoun district).

Hezbollah says it has targeted the "newly established espionage equipment at the [Israeli] Bayad Blida site," facing the southern Lebanese town of Marjeyoun, at 3:40 pm.

No response yet from the Israeli army. 

The U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasizes to Benjamin Netanyahu the "importance" of sparing civilians, as reported by AFP, citing a spokesperson for Mr. Blinken.

Update on the situation in southern Lebanon:

Hezbollah said its fighters targeted at 2:20 p.m. a group of Israeli soldiers near the Israeli Admit military base, which faces the southern Lebanese town of Marjeyoun, "with rocket weaponry, resulting in direct hits."

In a separate statement, Hezbollah said it had targeted the Israeli site of Ruwaisat al-Qurn, facing the southern border town of Aita al-Shaab, at 3 p.m.

Israeli warplanes targeted the outskirts of Kfar Kila (Nabatieh district) with four missiles, security sources told L'Orient Today. The strikes destroyed three houses in the town, yet no injuries have been reported until now, our correspondent reported, citing local residents.

Additionally, there was a drone strike on a house in Adaisseh (Marjayoun district) and an airstrike on Labbouneh (Sour) security sources reported. The targeted house in Adaisseh was unoccupied and was directly hit, causing a fire to break out, according to residents in the town.

Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank have shot dead a Palestinian youth accused of attempting a stabbing attack against them, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reports, citing local sources.

The shooting took place near the Ein Sinya checkpoint, north of Ramallah.

The report said the checkpoint is now closed.

Hezbollah announces the death of another of its members, Hassan Ismaïl known as “Adam,” originally from Aita al-Shaab in southern Lebanon. As usual, the party does not specify where and when he was killed.

In the last hour, Hezbollah says it has targeted an Israeli position facing the south Lebanon border village of Aita al-Shaab. This strike, at 1 p.m., is the fifth attack that it has announced today. Earlier it confirmed it hit a military base in Safid in one of Hezbollah's deepest attacks on Israel in this conflict.

Screen shot of the funeral of Hezbollah senior Hezbollah commander, Wissam Tawil, being broadcast Live by the Lebanese channel, affiliated with Hezbollah, Al Manar.

Hundreds of people are gathering right now at the late Hezbollah commander Wissam Tawil's house in the southern Lebanese village of Khirbit Silim for his funeral. He was killed in an Israeli drone yesterday. Religious and military songs were played during the ceremony.

L'Orient Today has confirmed that one person has been killed in an Israeli drone strike on a car located next to the area of the ceremony, at around 1pm - more updates to follow.

Screen shot of the funeral of Hezbollah senior Hezbollah commander, Wissam Tawil, being broadcast LIVE by the Lebanese channel, affiliated with Hezbollah, Al Manar.

One person has died after an Israeli drone hit a car close to the funeral of Hezbollah commander Wissam Tawil, which is happening now, the Civil Defence and a resident in the area has confirmed to L'Orient Today.

The head of the municipality of the village Mohamad Rahal confirmed that the strike was "just outside" the house of the brother of Wissam Tawil, where the ceremony is taking place. It reportedly happened around 1 o'clock.

Yesterday, Tawil was killed in an Israeli strike on his car – prompting fears of a potential escalation in the conflict, because of his important role in the group's elite Radwan force. He was reportedly involved in organizing Hezbollah's military campaign in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese newspaper, Al-Akhbar, which is affiliated with the group, reported that the strike yesterday happened just meters from his house in Khirbet Silm.

Hezbollah announced the death of one of its members. He has been named as Issa Nouredine, from the southern Lebanese village of Bourj Qalaway and a resident of Beirut's southern suburbs. As usual, Hezbollah did not specify the date and time of the killing.

It comes after Hezbollah confirmed that three members of its group were killed this morning in an Israeli strike in Ghandouriyeh, southern Lebanon.

157 Hezbollah fighters have been killed since fighting between the group and the Israeli army began on Oct. 8.

The Israeli army says its air forces attacked Hezbollah targets in Kfar Kila (Marjayoun) in southern Lebanon, as well as a "drone squad" belonging to the party elsewhere in southern Lebanon, the Israeli army spokesperson for the Israeli army, Daniel Hagari, said on his X account.

Earlier, multiple Israeli strikes took place on the outskirts of Kfar Kila, resulting in the total destruction of a three-story house. No casualties had been reported.

Israel launched interceptor missiles after their warning system signaled that "hostile aircraft" were infiltrating Israeli airspace from Lebanon, Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari said. on his X account.

He also confirmed that a military base had been hit in the north of the country, adding that there had been no material damage or casualties.

Earlier today, Hezbollah confirmed that it had struck the Israeli military commander's base in Safed, northern Israel, with a suicide drone. The party also said it had attacked two Israeli military targets opposite the neighboring villages of Mais al-Jabal and Mhaibib, in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah claims two attacks carried out at 9:35 a.m. and 9:40 a.m. against two Israeli positions facing the villages of Mais al-Jabal and Mhaibib (Marjayoun), in southern Lebanon, and specifies that they "directly hit the target."

The official Palestinian news agency Wafa reports that Israel carried out airstrikes in central and southern areas of Gaza, including around the Maghazi and al-Bureij camps.

The agency also reports that dozens of people were killed in the northern Gaza Strip, in Jabalia and Beit Hanoun, both of which are at the northern end of the Gaza Strip. Israel says it is targeting Hamas targets.

The Gazan Health Ministry announces that 23,210 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war between the Palestinian Islamist movement and Israel, reports AFP.

In the last 24 hours, 126 people were killed, according to this new report, which also shows 59,167 people injured since Oct. 7. The majority of people who died or were killed are women, adolescents and children.

The leader of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, on Tuesday, called on Muslim countries to "support" the movement in its war against Israel in the Gaza Strip by providing it with "weapons," reports AFP.

“The role of the Muslim nation...is major” and “the time has come to support the resistance with weapons, because it is the battle of Al-Aqsa and not only the battle of the Palestinian people," according to a speech delivered in Doha, the text of which was transmitted to the media in the Gaza Strip. The Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem is the third holiest site in Islam.

Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, which is affiliated with Hezbollah, is reporting that the attack that killed one of Hezbollah's Radwan force commanders, Wissam Tawil, yesterday, happened a few hundred yards from his home.

He was killed in the village of Khirbet Silm (Bint Jbeil) in southern Lebanon, in an Israeli drone strike. According to the report, they were only able to identify his body via a DNA test.

Israel is going through a "very difficult moment" but has "real chances" of integration with its Arab neighbors, estimates Antony Blinken from Tel Aviv, where he is continuing his tour of the Middle East, reports AFP.

“I know the efforts you have made over several years to build much better connections and integration in the Middle East. And I think there are real chances in this area. But we must overcome this very difficult moment,” Blinken said at the start of a meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz.

Hezbollah says it has targeted Israel's Northern Command Headquarters in the northern city of Safed with suicide drones.

They say it is in response to the killing of Hamas deputy political leader Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut's southern suburbs last Tuesday, as well as the fatal drone strike against one of Hezbollah's senior commanders, Wissam Tawil, yesterday in Khirbet Silm.

On Saturday Hezbollah launched a 62-rocket assault on the Israeli Meron air surveillance base, in one of the group's most significant strikes since the start of the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel on Oct. 8, 2023.

Three Hezbollah members were killed in an Israeli strike on a car in the village of Ghandourieh (Bint Jbeil) in southern Lebanon, the head of the municipality, Risala Scout (first responders) and Hezbollah have confirmed to L'Orient Today.

157 Hezbollah members have been killed in Lebanon and Syria, by our count, since the start of fighting on Oct. 8.

Yesterday, Israel killed a top Hezbollah commander, Wissam Tawil, in a strike in Khirbet Silm (Bint Jbeil), southern Lebanon.

The Israeli army killed around 40 Palestinian fighters and raided a compound and tunnel entrances during operations in Khan Younis, the army was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Continuing operations since Monday, the army said planes struck Hamas fighters in Al-Maghazi , in the central Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army announced early Tuesday the deaths of four soldiers, bringing to 180 the total deaths in its ranks since the start of ground operations in Gaza.

In Gaza, bombings razed entire neighborhoods, displaced 85 percent of the population and caused a catastrophic humanitarian crisis according to the UN.

The Israeli army also announced Monday that it had killed a “central figure” of Hamas in Syria, Hassan Akkacha. “He was a central figure responsible for rockets fired towards Israel by Hamas from Syrian territory in recent weeks,” the army said.

The top American diplomat, Antony Blinken, is due to meet Israeli leaders on Tuesday and press for a de-escalation of the war in Gaza, the day after strikes in Syria and Lebanon which killed two senior Hamas and Hezbollah officials.

Update on the situation in southern Lebanon:

• 1:00 a.m.: Israeli artillery bombarded the outskirts of the villages of Jibain, Ramieh, Al-Qawzah and Beit Lif with nine artillery shots and launching flares, a security source told L’Orient Today. A number of flares were launched between Marwahin, Tarbikha and Ramieh, according to the source.

• 2:00 a.m.: Artillery bombardment of the outskirts of Alma al-Shaab and Naqoura, a security source told L’Orient Today.

• 7:00 a.m.: Israeli warplanes launched missiles and shot machine guns towards the outskirts of the town of Kfar Kila. According to residents of the town, one of the strikes targeted a three-story house in Kfar Kila that was completely destroyed, and no injuries were reported.

• Also reports this morning from a security source that Israel's army shelled the outskirts of Aitaroun, Aita al-Shaab, Yaroun, Maroun al-Ras. And residents told L'Orient Today Houla and Mais al-Jabal have also been targeted.

Here is the Morning Brief to catch you up with what has been happening.

Morning Brief

Hezbollah commander killed, waste crisis averted, airport hack investigation ongoing: Everything you need to know to start your Tuesday

Good morning!

Thank you for joining us once more for our live coverage of the war between Hamas and Israel in Gaza.