Israeli fire on ambulance in Gaza kills 6 Palestinians; Egypt, Jordan, Palestinian Authority call for 'continued pressure' to end Israeli aggression: Day 96 of Hamas-Israel war

Thank you for following our LIVE coverage of day 96 of the Israel-Hamas war. We will be back tomorrow with more news updates.

Authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan have announced that an "explosive drone" targeting the international anti-jihadist coalition was shot down at Erbil airport today, the latest incident in a series of attacks targeting foreign troops deployed in Iraq, according to AFP.

The "explosive drone," launched in the evening "by outlaw militias, was shot down at the international coalition's military base" at the airport in Erbil, capital of Iraq's Kurdistan region, announced the counter-terrorism services of this autonomous region in northern Iraq.

The UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict will visit Israel at the end of January to "gather information" on Hamas's accusations of sexual violence in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attacks, a spokesperson has announced, according to AFP.

Pramila Patten "will conduct a mission to Israel and the West Bank at the end of the month ... to gather information on accusations of sexual violence committed in connection with the Oct. 7 attacks and its aftermath," Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the Secretary-General, said on Wednesday, noting that this was not an "investigation" as such.

US Envoy Amos Hochstein will meet outgoing Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the Grand Serail on Thursday at 11:30 a.m.
He will then meet with the Speaker of the House, Nabih Berri, at 1:30 p.m.

Hochstein, in charge of defusing the escalation between Lebanon and Israel, is expected in Beirut on Wednesday evening.

Speaking on OTV, FPM Leader Gebran Bassil also considered that the proposal made by American Envoy Amos Hochstein was "insufficient," referring to the land border dispute between Lebanon and Israel.

"Anything that requires agreement requires a President of the Republic [of which Lebanon has been deprived for over a year], and the presidency of the republic is not an office that can be bartered," he said.

"Anything that serves Lebanon's interests, I won't refuse," he continued ."Resolution 1701 must be applied by both parties, Lebanese and Israeli," he said.

Returning to the issue of the war in Gaza, he stated that "everything that happens opens the way to possibilities of resolution."

"The crisis in Gaza is prolonged, but will eventually come to an end,"he added.

"What we are experiencing today is an existential conflict that began with the Balfour Declaration [of 1917] and Israel's oppression of the Palestinians, fueling the level of hatred and resentment and engendering this armed resistance," said the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), Gebran Bassil, during a televised broadcast on his party's channel, OTV.

"Israel will not achieve victory through the logic of force," he added.

According to him, the best way for Lebanon to "confront Israel is to build a state and establish a strong economy."

"Palestinians have no choice but to fight to preserve the land of their ancestors," he said.

"We don't support the logic of front unity, but I understand those who use it to achieve gains," he added. "We agree with Hezbollah to protect Lebanon and face up to Israel, which constantly assaults us, but no more than that," he said, pointing out that "the document of understanding [between Hezbollah and the FPM] does not mention the liberation of Palestine, as this is the mission of the Palestinians on their own land, and it is up to them to decide what to do on their soil."

Jordanian King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas today called for "continued pressure" to stop the war in the Gaza Strip and protect Palestinian civilians, reports AFP.

In a statement following a meeting in Aqaba, southern Jordan, the three leaders stressed the "need to keep up the pressure to end the Israeli aggression against Gaza and protect defenseless civilians."

They also affirmed the importance of "ensuring the permanent and sufficient delivery of relief and humanitarian aid to Gaza, in order to alleviate the tragic humanitarian situation" in the Palestinian territory.

According to the statement, they also warned against "attempts to reoccupy parts of Gaza or to establish security zones there."

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock pledged 15 million euros in aid to the Lebanese Army today, amid growing concerns about tensions on the border with Israel, against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war, according to AFP.

The army needs to be able to exercise "effective control" over the region in order to "contain armed militias and terrorist organizations," said the minister on a visit to Beirut, adding that the aim was to help the Lebanese Army better secure the southern border with Israel.

Hezbollah claims in a statement that Israelis are contacting Lebanese citizens in south Lebanon, claiming they are Lebanese security forces, to "inquire information" about their location and family members to use it to assassinate Hezbollah members.

Hezbollah says Israelis "speaking with a Lebanese accent" are claiming they are Lebanese Internal Security Members or General Security or relief organizations trying to help in order to trick people into giving them information.

Hezbollah says Israelis are seeking such methods after "losing a large part of the effectiveness of the espionage and spying devices installed in its border sites after being targeted and destroyed by the resistance."

"We call on our dear people in general, especially the people of the front villages, not to respond to the caller in any question related to the surroundings and the movement of individuals in it, and to take the initiative to cut off the call immediately, and then rush to inform the concerned authorities without any delay," the statement adds.

The Palestinian Red Crescent announced today that six people, including four of its rescue workers, had died in an Israeli strike on an ambulance in the central Gaza Strip, according to AFP.

An earlier report put the death toll at four.

"Six martyrs, following a strike on an ambulance by the Israeli army in Deir el-Balah. Among them, four are rescue workers from the Palestinian Red Crescent," said the organization on X (formerly Twitter).

"Two other people who were in the ambulance at the time of the strike were injured and later died," it added.

The ambulance was on Salaheddine Street at the entrance to Deir el-Balah, the main artery that crosses the Gaza Strip from north to south, according to the Red Crescent.

Due to the Israel-Hamas war, and its extension to the Red Sea with Houthi attacks on merchant ships, volumes transiting through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, separating Djibouti and Eritrea in Africa from Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and the Suez Canal in Egypt, have collapsed in recent weeks, underlines financial expert Michel Santi to L'Orient-Le Jour.

Citing data published by the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Portwatch portal, compiled by Bianco Research, he points out that the volume in metric tons of goods transiting through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has fallen by more than 46 percent since Dec. 15, 2023 — when several carriers decided to divert their ships from this route — and Jan. 7 (from 4,990 to 2,682 tons per day on average).

The Suez Canal saw a 40 percent drop over the same period (from 5,073 to 3,032 metric tons per day on average).

"How could the USA avoid getting involved in these Middle Eastern wars under such circumstances?" he asks. 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was "committed" to reforming the government entity sitting in the occupied West Bank, after a meeting between the two men in the Palestinian territory, according to AFP.

"I don't want to speak for President Abbas, but I think what I take away from this meeting is that he's committed to it and he's quite ready to move forward," said Blinken in response to an AFP question about Abbas's commitment to reforming the Palestinian Authority.

In a statement made later to the press in Bahrain, Blinken also considered that the continuing attacks by the Iranian-backed, Yemen-based Houthis on Red Sea commercial shipping lanes would have consequences, and that Iran had been made clear that its support had to stop.

"We have also repeatedly tried to make clear to Iran, as have other countries, that their support for the Houthis, including for these actions, must stop," he said.

Israeli artillery fires flare bombs around Dhaira and Yarin (Sour district), residents of the village told L'Orient-Le Jour.

A picture taken from a position in southern Israel along the border with the Gaza Strip on Jan. 10, 2024, shows Israeli army vehicles driving down a road in Gaza amid Israel-Hamas war. (Credit: Jack Guez/AFP)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday there will be consequences for continued attacks on commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea by Yemen-based Houthis, and that it had been made clear to Iran that support being provided needs to stop, according to Haaretz.

"We've also repeatedly tried to make clear to Iran, as other countries have, as well, that the support that they're providing to the Houthis, including for these actions, needs to stop," Blinken told reporters.

At 4:45 p.m., Hezbollah announced that it had aimed "rockets" at an Israeli position opposite the village Dhaira (Sour) in southern Lebanon, and that it had "hit the target directly."

The Israeli air force attacked a Hezbollah command center and launch site in southern Lebanon, reports Haaretz.

Hezbollah announces that it targeted an Israeli position facing the south Lebanese border village Markaba (Marjayoun) at 3:55 p.m. and said they "directly hit the target."

Israeli strike targets ambulance in Gaza. Four people were killed, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.

US Special Envoy Amos Hochstein will meet Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. to discuss the latest developments in the region amid the Israel-Hamas war and the ongoing exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Israel in south Lebanon.

Previously, Hochstein successfully mediated a maritime border deal between Lebanon and Israel which was agreed upon in October of 2022.

The Israeli army also shelled the outskirts of Dhaira, Jibbayn and Yarin in Sour district, residents of these villages told L'Orient-Le Jour.

Lebanese civilian Hassan Tawil was killed by an Israeli artillery shot while he was in his house in the south Lebanese border village Kfar Kila (Marjayoun district), Kfar Kila's mayor told L'Orient-Le Jour.

He also said that Tawil was a mechanic.

Israeli war cabinet is set to convene to discuss potential hostage deal and Gaza 'day-after' plan, according to Haaretz.

The Israeli war cabinet is reportedly set to convene at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, and is expected to discuss both a potential hostage deal and the 'day after' plans for the Gaza Strip, according to Ynet News.

It was also reported that earlier on Wednesday, reports in Qatar indicated that Egyptian mediation had been ongoing "from the place that ceased" before the killing of Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut last week.

According to a report in the Qatari outlet The New Arab, the Israeli effort is focused on ensuring that the hostage deal will result in only a temporary ceasefire and not a permanent one.

Egyptian and Qatari mediation resumes after pause, and an Israeli delegation visited Egypt on Tuesday, according to Reuters via Haaretz.

Egypt, along with Qatar, has separately been trying to mediate between Israel and Hamas to negotiate a new ceasefire in Gaza, and the release of Israeli hostages that Hamas captured in its surprise Oct. 7 incursion into Israel.

That mediation has resumed following a pause after the killing last week of Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut.

An Israeli delegation visited Egypt on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of a long-term cease-fire in return for the freeing of hostages, two Egyptian security sources said.

A picture shows tents of displaced Palestinians set up near the coast in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, as a navy ship patrols the Mediterranean Sea on Jan. 10, 2024, amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. (Credit: AFP)

Here is an update on south Lebanon in the past 30 minutes:

The Israeli army shelled an area between Kfar Kila and Deir Mimas, and between Kfar Kila and Adaiseh, in Marjayoun district, residents of the villages told L'Orient-Le Jour.

The Israeli army struck a house in the south Lebanese village Hanine in Bint Jbeil district, residents of south Lebanon told L'Orient-Le Jour.

The Israeli army struck an empty house in the south Lebanese border village Beit Lif (Bint Jbeil district), residents of the village told L'Orient-Le Jour.

"War is not the solution. Our goal is to allow residents of border villages to return home. The solution lies in diplomatic frameworks and efforts," said Deputy Speaker of Parliament Elias Bou Saab, during a meeting with Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain al-Tineh.

Quoted by MTV, Bou Saab also informed Berri of his meeting with the American emissary Amos Hochstein in Rome, while Hochstein is expected in Beirut in the coming hours. “We hope that this visit will lead to restoring stability,” added Bou Saab.

The leader of Kataeb, Samy Gemayel, warned against any compromise in southern Lebanon that would be made "at the expense of Lebanon."

"It is clear that Israel has an interest in protecting its borders and Hezbollah has an interest in staying alive...Therefore, the negotiations could benefit both groups, but we are afraid that this will happen at the expense of Lebanon,” declared Gemayel, following a meeting with the French Ambassador to Beirut, Hervé Magro.

Read the full story here.

Israeli artillery is targeting the Tarash area southwest of the town of Mais al-Jabal (Marjayoun), local residents told L'Orient Today.

Hezbollah MP Hasan Fadlallah spoke during the meeting of the "Islamic parliaments" in Tehran, Iran, calling on the bodies to "actively support the Palestinian people by pressuring their governments to halt Zionist [Israeli] aggression against Gaza." He highlighted Lebanon's stand against Israeli attacks and held the US and its allies accountable for supporting the occupying force", Hezbollah said in a statement.

Fadlallah emphasized the "need to stop the fire before any other actions" and stressed that "the fate of nations, particularly in Palestine and Lebanon, should be determined by their people, not by Israeli forces." He called for collective efforts to "stop the assaults, lift the blockade on Palestinians, and assist in reconstruction while pushing for accountability in international forums."

The Gazan Health Ministry announces a new toll of 23,357 Palestinians killed and 59,410 injured by Israeli strikes on the enclave since Oct. 7, reports Reuters.

"Lebanon respects all international decisions, starting with the truce agreement [of 1949 with Israel] with a view to achieving lasting stability in South Lebanon," assured caretaker Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, during their meeting this morning at Beirut's Grand Serail in the presence of caretaker Lebanese caretaker foreign minister Abdallah Bou Habib.

In a statement from the Serail, Mikati added, "It's time to find a just and lasting solution for the Palestinian cause, starting with a cease-fire and an international path to a final and comprehensive two-state solution."

The caretaker head of government also asked Germany for "help for the Lebanese army, to enable it to carry out its mission," and reaffirmed "his commitment to the best relations with Germany," thanking Berlin for "its support for Lebanon at all levels."

For her part, Baerbock stressed "the importance of implementing Resolution 1701," according to the prime minister's office.

(Photo: Hussam Shbaro)

The American Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, reaffirmed Wednesday that the "United States supports tangible measures for the creation of a Palestinian state," during a meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, reports AFP.

The US official also insisted that "all Palestinian taxes collected by Israel [must] be systematically transferred to the Palestinian Authority, in accordance with past agreements," while Israel blocks these funds, leading to financial difficulties for the Palestinian Authority. 

Israeli planes attacked Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, announced Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari on his X account, cited by Haaretz.

The target of the night attack was "a military headquarters of the organization" in the Kfarchouba region. Daniel Hagari also adds that a military building in the Naqoura region was targeted in response to shots aimed at Israel. Finally, the Israeli army says that it has destroyed a Hezbollah observation post in the Khiam region.

"Antony Blinken is set to visit Bahrain on Wednesday, adding a stop to his diplomatic marathon in the Middle East, according to a State Department official cited by AFP.

Blinken, who earlier held talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, is scheduled to meet King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in Bahrain as part of discussions on ways to prevent an escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The Guardian reported that "the planet-warming emissions generated during the first two months of the war in Gaza were greater than the annual carbon footprint of more than 20 of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, new research reveals." The Guardian also noted that emissions from Israel’s attack against Gaza have "immense" effect on the climate.

Read the full story here.

Lebanon submitted its third complaint to the UN over Israel's violations of UN Resolution 1701 by utilizing prohibited weapons and causing harm to civilians.

This is the third complaint that Lebanon has filed against Israel with the UN since the start of the Oct. 7 war.

Read the full report here.

Caretaker Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati received German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at the Grand Serail in Beirut this morning, in the presence of the caretaker Lebanese foreign minister, Abdallah Bou Habib.

No statement has been reported so far. Baerbock is also expected to meet with other local officials.

(Photo Hossam Chbaro)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in the occupied West Bank, after pressing Israeli leaders to pave the way for a Palestinian state.

Blinken visited Ramallah, the de facto Palestinian capital. He is expected to discuss with Abbas "the responsibility of the Palestinian Authority to reform itself and improve its governance," according to his remarks made Tuesday evening during a press conference.

Read the full report here.

Israeli artillery shelling targeted the southern part of the village of Khiam (Marjayoun) local residents told L'Orient Today.

Hezbollah announces the death of one of its members, Nabegh al-Kadri, known as "Abou Ali," originally from Kfar Shouba.

This is the victim killed by an Israeli strike against a home in this locality of the Hasbaya district. According to initial information, al-Kadri was a member of the Resistance Brigades (an armed branch affiliated with Hezbollah), but the party did not specify whether he was part of it.

Several Israeli airstrikes targeted the town of Labbouneh (Sour) a security source told L'Orient Today.

Israel shelled Jabal al-Blat, on the outskirts of Marwahin (Sour,) local residents told L'Orient Today. An Israeli drone also struck the outskirts of the town, a security source told our correspondent.

The UN Security Council scheduled a vote Wednesday on a resolution that would condemn and demand an immediate halt to attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea area, AP reported.

The US draft resolution, obtained late Tuesday by AP, says at least two dozen Houthi attacks are impeding global commerce and “undermine navigational rights and freedoms as well as regional peace and security.”

The draft resolution calls for the condemnation of all arms deals carried out by Iranian-backed groups, according to AP.

An emergency response team from the Civil Defense evacuated the body of the person, Nabegh el-Kadri, killed in Kfar Shouba (Hasbaya), according to locals cited by our correspondent. This information was also confirmed by the Civil Defense on X.

The team worked from 3:30 a.m. to 6 a.m. and also extinguished the fire caused by the Israeli strike on a residence.

(Photo sent to L'Orient Today by local residents)

White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby clarified US President Joe Biden's Monday remarks, in which he said he is "working to get Israel to significantly get out of Gaza." Kirby insisted, in a statement, that the US has not changed its stance and they still "don't support a cease-fire at this time," claiming that a cease-fire will "only benefit Hamas." Kirby added that the US does not see an "indication that Israel is [maliciously attempting to kill journalists]."

One person was killed in an Israeli strike on a house in Kfar Shouba (Hasbaya), according to a security source. According to initial information, it is Nabegh el-Kadri, alias "Abou Ali", a member of the Resistance Brigades (armed branch affiliated with Hezbollah), but the party has so far not claimed the death. The strike also left one injured, according to the same source.

Israeli bombardment was reported on the outskirts of Dhaira (Sour), according to residents. Other towns in southern Lebanon were bombed overnight by the Israeli army.

The Lebanese army announced on X on Monday evening that a joint patrol with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) had found on the outskirts of Labbouneh (Sour) "three pipes laid from occupied Palestine by the Israeli enemy in order to inject inflammable materials."

Earlier on Monday, Hezbollah channel Al Manar correspondent Ali Shoeib reported on X that Israeli forces had "deployed 200-metre-long plastic pipes from the site to the Raheb forest on the outskirts of the locality of Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil) using a large drone" in order to pass flammable fuel through pre-drilled holes, with the aim of setting the area ablaze.

The Israeli army, last night, claimed responsibility for the assassination of Ali Hussein Bourji, a Hezbollah fighter whom it presents as the head of the party's drone unit. According to Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari, quoted by Haaretz, Ali Hussein Bourji "carried out numerous operational and intelligence activities against Israel, including the infiltration of the drone from Lebanon and which crashed against the northern command base of the Israeli army.

In a statement, Hezbollah's press office denied the Israeli reports, saying the head of its drone unit was not killed.

On Monday, Hezbollah announced the death of Ali Hussein Bourji in a brief statement, without further details. According to a security source cited by our correspondent, this fighter was killed by an Israeli drone strike on a car near the funeral of Hezbollah commander Wissam Tawil in Khirbet Silm (Bint Jbeil).

Make sure to read the Morning Brief so that you are caught up with what has been happening.

Morning Brief

Hezbollah commander's funeral, dual rent strikes, Gaza's death toll rises: Everything you need to know to start your Wednesday

Good morning!

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