Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati (R) poses with Britain's Foreign Secretary David Cameron before a meeting at the Government Palace in Beirut on Feb. 1, 2024. (Credit: AFP)
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Catch up on yesterday’s LIVE coverage of Day 118 of the Israel-Hamas war here.
As cross-border attacks continued between Israel and Hezbollah, the party’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah scheduled a speech on Feb. 13. In his sixth speech since Oct. 7, Nasrallah’s address will mark the date on which the party commemorates its wounded members. Hezbollah’s casualties are estimated by L’Orient Today to number no less than 177 members killed in both Lebanon and Syria over the past 118 days. The party’s parliamentary bloc leader Mohammad Raad, whose son was among the Hezbollah fighters killed by an Israeli attack in November, reiterated that they were adapting its “deterrence” measures in the face of escalated Israeli cross-border attacks. During a meeting with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who insisted on the primacy of a cease-fire in Gaza by the Grand Serail’s account, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati repeated that Lebanon’s support for “a political and diplomatic solution” to the border clashes.
Hezbollah MPs for Baalbeck-Hermel called for their region to receive additional quantities of flour during a meeting with caretaker Economy Minister Amin Salam, deeming insufficient the 150 tonnes allotted for the needs of 120,000 people. Salam promised a rapid resolution telling the MPs it is “inconceivable to undermine the daily bread of citizens.” MP Melhem Hojeiry decried the need to transport bread “from Beirut and the mountains to the northern Bekaa,” leading its price to “double.” In August 2022, queues formed at bakeries across the country amid wheat and bread shortages.
At least 27,019 people have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, according to the latest figures from the enclave’s health ministry.
Hamas gave its initial approval for a cease-fire agreement greenlit by Israel during last week’s talks in Paris with Qatari, US, Israeli and Egyptian officials, the spokesman for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry told AFP.
As with the previous cease-fire, the pause in hostilities would allow an expanded delivery of humanitarian aid. Meanwhile, the UN’s Palestinian Refugee agency (UNRWA) warned the funding cuts, announced by 17 donors since last week, could force it to halt operations by the end of the month. UNRWA has since dismissed the members who allegedly participated in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
Israel’s defense minister said the Israeli military would direct its advance towards Rafah, claiming that it has dismantled Hamas’ military capabilities in Khan Younis. Israel intensified its ground offensive and shelling on northern Gaza after advancing through the north of the enclave, which many returnees found reduced to rubble.
In case you missed it, here’s our must-read story from yesterday: “Why is Kataib Hezbollah suspending attacks on the US?”
Compiled by Abbas Mahfouz
