3 UN observers and a Lebanese assistant wounded near the Blue Line in southern Lebanon: Gaza war, day 176

Thank you for following our LIVE coverage of day 176 of the Gaza war. We will be back tomorrow with more news updates.

Thousands of Israeli Arabs called for an end to the war in Gaza, at a rally in Deir Hanna, northern Israel, for Land Day, which commemorates the deaths in 1976 of six Arabs demonstrating against Israel's confiscation of their land.

"Stop the war on Gaza" and "Gaza, don't waver" were the words on the placards of participants who marched through the town's streets to the main square, some wearing kuffiyehs and waving Palestinian flags.

Arab Israeli MPs were at the forefront of the march, which was also attended by small groups of Jews, some bearing slogans in Hebrew such as "Jews and Arabs refuse to be enemies," reports AFP.

⚡️The truce talks between Israel and Hamas will resume on Sunday in Cairo, reported Egypt's al-Qahera News TV.

An Israeli official told Reuters that Israel will send a delegation to Cairo on Sunday.

However, a Hamas official told the agency that the group would first wait to be informed by the Cairo mediators of the outcome of their talks with Israel.

French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné warned today against a "large-scale confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah," who have been engaged in deadly fighting on the Lebanese-Israeli border since the start of the Gaza war, saying it would "lead to heavy losses."

"A large-scale confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah would lead to heavy losses," the minister warned at a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Choukri and Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi in Cairo, according to local media.

He also said that "France has put forward proposals to resolve the crisis between Israel and Lebanon," reported the official National News Agency (NNA).

Read more here.

Hundreds of people demonstrated against the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in several Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa, to demand the release of hostages held since Oct. 7 by Hamas.

Before the main anti-government demonstration in Tel Aviv, relatives of the hostages announced in a speech to the media that they were planning to take steps to oust the Prime Minister from power, Haaretz reported.

BREAKING: The Lebanese Foreign Ministry said today that it was preparing to lodge an "urgent" complaint with the UN Security Council following the "attack" on a UN observer patrol near the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel earlier in the day.

In a statement, Lebanon's Foreign Ministry also said that it "condemns the attack which violates international and humanitarian law with regards to the targeting of UN peacekeepers after the targeting of journalists, first responders, children, women and civilians."

Read more here.

Hezbollah claimed two new attacks this afternoon:

• In a first statement, the party claimed to have carried out an aerial drone attack targeting an Israeli army brigade headquarters in Ya'ara.

• At 4:30 p.m., it also targeted the Israeli Roueissat al-Alam site in the occupied Kfar Shuba heights.

We've received some more details on what happened following an "explosion" along the Blue Line in southern Lebanon, which injured three United Nations observers, and one translator, according to UNIFIL, the UN's peacekeeping force.

The casualties of the "explosion" were treated by Irish Defense Forces medical personnel, belonging to the UN's peacekeeping mission in south Lebanon.

"The Irish coordinated the evacuation of one patient by helicopter to Beirut. The remaining three patients were transported by the 123rd Infantry Battalion using the Irish armored ambulance and armored personnel carriers (APCs) to a hospital in the city of Tyre," the Irish army said in a statement.

Residents of Beirut told L'Orient Today that they saw a UN helicopter landing on the Saint George Hospital in Geitawi. Earlier reports suggested that a vehicle, containing UN observers, had been struck in an "Israeli strike" — an accusation Israel swiftly denied.

The Israeli army has carried out repeated attacks on Lebanese Army bases in south Lebanon since the beginning of the war on Oct. 7, one of which killed a Lebanese army soldier on Dec. 5.

This incident alongside repeated attacks on the Lebanese Army in the last few months prompted alarm in the Biden administration and rebukes from top US officials to Israeli leadership.

BREAKING: An Israeli drone struck a Lebanese Army base in the southern Lebanese village of Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil), a Lebanese Army and security source told L'Orient Today. There are no casualties.

This came hours after three UN observers and a translator were injured in what UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL described as an "explosion," while they were on a foot patrol near the Blue Line in the south.

Early reports had suggested it was an Israeli drone strike, which the Israeli army has denied.

A second shipment of aid carrying almost 400 tons of food for Gaza left Cyprus's Larnaca port today, a witness told Reuters.

A cargo vessel, already anchored outside the port carrying aid, was joined by a salvage vessel and a platform also carrying aid, which had previously been moored in port, the witness said. The salvage vessel will be towing the aid.

It will be the second dispatch of aid via Cyprus, where Cypriot authorities have established, in cooperation with Israel, a maritime corridor to facilitate pre-screened cargoes arriving directly to the besieged Palestinian enclave.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah has claimed the following attacks:

* Hezbollah announced that it attacked the Israeli position in Re'im with a Burkan missile at 8 a.m.

* A second attack announced by Hezbollah took place at 12:20 p.m. at an Israeli position facing the southern Lebanese village of Bostane.

* Hezbollah also said it attacked at 12:45 p.m. Israeli soldiers near an Israeli position facing the southern Lebanese village of Aita al-Shaab.

* Hezbollah said it targeted at 12: 15 p.m. a building facing the southern Lebanese village of Dhaira in Sour district. The party said Israeli soldiers were present in the building.

Here's a wrap-up of events on the Lebanese-Israeli border since this morning:

* The Israeli army launched airstrikes on houses in a residential neighborhood in the southern village of Taibeh in the Marjayoun district around 10 a.m. and another strike on the village at 2 p.m., residents of the village told L'Orient-Le Jour.

* The Israeli army shelled the outskirts of Maroun al-Ras and Yaroun in Bint Jbeil district around 11 a.m., residents of the villages told L'Orient-Le Jour.

* The Israeli army struck a house in Naqoura, Sour district, around 1:30 p.m., residents of the area told L'Orient-Le Jour.

* The Israeli army struck the village of Hanine in Bint Jbeil district multiple times around 1:30 p.m., residents of the village told L'Orient-Le Jour.

Lebanon's prime minister, Najib Mikati, has condemned the 'targeting' of UN forces in southern Lebanon that wounded three UN observers.

The United Nations observers, as well as a Lebanese translator, were injured during a foot patrol along the Blue Line in southern Lebanon after a nearby “explosion,” according to a statement by the UN peacekeeping force, UNIFIL.

Earlier reports suggested that a vehicle, containing UN observers, had been struck in a "Israeli strike" — an accusation Israel swiftly denied.

Quick reminder: What is the Blue Line?

The Blue Line stretches for 120km along Lebanon’s southern frontier. Some 272 blue barrels show the precise path of the Blue Line — visualized here in this infographic.

It is not a border, but a “line of withdrawal.” It was set by the United Nations in 2000 to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.

The Blue Line is temporary. The UN peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, is charged with "maintaining calm and stability along this fragile frontier and avoiding unnecessary provocations and incidents that may lead to crisis and potentially to a conflict," according to the UN.

The Blue Line became one of the central elements of Resolution 1701, which brought an end to the 2006 war, and provided for Hezbollah’s withdrawal from areas south of the Litani River in exchange for halting Israeli intrusions into Lebanese sovereign territory.

What is OGL  — the UN group whose three staff members were injured this morning in southern Lebanon?

OGL [Observer Group Lebanon] is part of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO). UNTSO has been present in the region since 1949 to bring stability to the Middle East.

OGL supports UNIFIL in carrying out its mandate, by observing, monitoring, reporting and/or investigating incidents that are, or could lead to, a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. In broad terms, Resolution 1701, which brought an end to the 2006 war, provides for Hezbollah’s withdrawal from areas south of the Litani River in exchange for halting Israeli intrusions into Lebanese sovereign territory.

Three United Nations military observers have been injured during a foot patrol along the Blue Line in southern Lebanon after a nearby “explosion,” according to a statement by the UN peacekeeping force, UNIFIL.

Earlier reports suggested that a vehicle, containing UN observers, had been struck in a "Israeli strike" — an accusation Israel swiftly denied.

In a statement, UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Teneti said: "This morning, three OGL ["Observer Group Lebanon”] (UNTSO) [United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, which helps support UNFIL implement their mandate] military observers and one Lebanese language assistant on a foot patrol along the Blue Line were injured when an explosion occurred near their location.”



The statement adds that the injured have been evacuated and are receiving medical treatment, and UNIFIL is investigating the origin of the explosion.

“Safety and security of UN personnel must be granted. All actors have a responsibility under international humanitarian law to ensure protection to non-combatants, including peacekeepers,” Teneti added.

Gaza casualty toll update: At least 32,705 Palestinians have been killed and 75,190 injured in Israel's military offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7, Reuters reports, citing the Gaza Health Ministry.

Meanwhile, in Gaza, the Palestine Red Crescent is saying that five people were killed and dozens wounded by gunfire and a stampede during an aid delivery today, AFP reports. ➡️ More details here.

Some context following reports that an Israeli drone struck a vehicle carrying three UN observers and a Lebanese translator outside Rmeish, in southern Lebanon, this morning.

* On Nov. 25, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said that one of its patrols was hit by Israeli gunfire in the vicinity of Aitaroun in southern Lebanon. There were no casualties. It condemned the attack on its peacekeepers, calling it "deeply troubling."

* Last month, UNIFIL said that the Israeli military violated international law by firing on a group of clearly identifiable journalists in October, killing a Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah.

The UN vehicle reportedly targeted by the Israeli drone on the outskirts of the town of Rmeish was carrying three UNIFIL officers and a Lebanese translator, a security source and a Lebanese army source told L'Orient Today.

The Israeli army immediately denied responsibility for the strike. More to follow.

The Israeli army denies striking a UN vehicle in Lebanon this morning.

"Contrary to the reports, the IDF [Israeli army] did not strike a @UNIFIL_ vehicle in the area of Rmeish this morning," the army wrote on X at 11:29 a.m.

More details to follow.

A correspondent at Lebanon's state-run National News Agency is reporting "a number of UNIFIL soldiers" have been wounded, as well as a "Lebanese man" in an Israeli strike on a UN vehicle in Rmeish.

L'Orient Today cannot yet independently verify these reports.

There remains no immediate comment from UNIFIL — the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, which accompanies technical observers monitoring the Blue Line, which delineates the border between Lebanon and Israel.

BREAKING: An Israeli strike has hit a vehicle carrying United Nations observers outside the southern Lebanese border town of Rmeish, Reuters reports citing two security sources.

There was no immediate comment from the UN peacekeeper mission in southern Lebanon UNIFIL, which accompanies technical observers monitoring the Blue Line, which delineates the border between Lebanon and Israel. We'll bring you more information as we receive it.

The US has in recent days authorized the transfer of billions of dollars worth of bombs and fighter jets to Israel, despite Washington publicly expressing concerns about an anticipated Israeli military offensive in Rafah, The Washington Post reports.

The new arms packages include more than 1,800 MK-84 2,000-lb bombs and 500 MK-82 500-lb bombs, according to Pentagon and State Department officials familiar with the matter.

It comes as Israel faces strong international criticism over its continued bombing campaign and ground offensive in Gaza and as some members of Joe Biden’s party call for him to cut US military aid. US Democrat Senator Bernie Sanders wrote on social media, “The US cannot beg [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] to stop bombing civilians one day and the next send him thousands more 2,000 lb. bombs that can level entire city blocks.”

Update on the situation in Gaza:

Massive overnight attacks took place again in central and northern Gaza, resulting in further displacement and civilian casualties, Al Jazeera's English-language website reported.

The report provides the following details.

* In central Gaza, residential buildings were targeted and destroyed in both the Nuseirat and Maghazi refugee camps.

* There were also attacks in Deir al-Balah, an area people were initially told was safe to go to. Civil defense crews and paramedics are struggling to recover the wounded due to a lack of equipment. They often use their bare hands and rely on volunteers from the area.

* A massive wave of aerial attacks also hit the northern part of Gaza in the early hours of last night, following an earlier attack on a law enforcement force in the Salah al-Din area, which was responsible for securing the delivery of humanitarian aid in the area.

Here's what happened in south Lebanon overnight: 

* Hezbollah announced that it attacked an Israeli military vehicle at the Metula military base yesterday afternoon and carried out another attack on Israeli soldiers at 9:15 p.m. at a position facing the southern Lebanese village of Aitaroun (Bint Jbeil).

* The Israeli army shelled the outskirts of the border villages of Houla and Markaba in the Marjayoun district around 10 p.m.

* The Israeli army shelled the outskirts of Khiam (Marjayoun), Wazzani (Hasbaya), Taibeh (Marjayoun) and Aitraroun (Bint Jbeil) around 11 p.m.

* The Israeli army opened fire on the outskirts of the village of Blida (Marjayoun) around 11 p.m.

* The Israeli army shelled and opened fire on the area of al-Jidar in Kfar Kila (Marjayoun) around 12 a.m.

* Hezbollah announced that it attacked Israeli soldiers and its military vehicles at 1:20 a.m. at an Israeli position facing the southern Lebanese village of Bint Jbeil.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given the go-ahead for new truce talks in the Palestinian territory of Gaza, AFP reported yesterday. Gaza has now been under siege and bombardment for nearly six months.

At a time when indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel with a view to a truce appeared to have reached an impasse, Netanyahu, according to his office, "approved a next round of negotiations, in the coming days, in Doha and Cairo … to move forward," after holding talks with the directors of the intelligence services, Mossad and Shin Bet.

Since the start of the year, negotiating sessions have been held via international mediators — Egypt, Qatar and the United States — but without success.

Hezbollah yesterday announced the deaths of seven of its fighters: six of them killed in the Aleppo region of Syria and one "leader" killed near Sour, South Lebanon.

Since Oct. 8, 264 Hezbollah members have been killed in Israeli strikes in Syria and Lebanon, according to our count.

The Israeli defense minister, on a tour of northern Israel along the border with Lebanon, said that the Israeli army would "pursue Hezbollah wherever it operates and increase the pressure and pace of its attacks" against the party "until it achieves its objective: to change the security situation along the border and allow the safe return of the inhabitants" of the region.

In two messages on X, Yoav Gallant said he had gone to the Israeli army's Northern command "to follow closely the assassination of a Hezbollah commander and to take stock of preparations for other eliminations and actions in Lebanon, Syria and beyond."

According to Gallant's press office, quoted by Haaretz, the minister added that Israel is going "on the offensive rather than the defensive" and is ready to attack Hezbollah "in Beirut, Baalbeck, Tyre [Sour], Saida, all along the border, and in other places further away, such as Damascus."

In its attacks since Oct. 8, Israel has already struck all the regions mentioned in Gallant's press release.

We get underway with a recap of yesterday's events: 

The Israeli army said it attacked several Hezbollah "military infrastructure" installations in southern Lebanon, including "a structure in which a terrorist was identified in the Mais al-Jabal area," according to its Arabic-speaking spokesperson, Avichay Adraee.

Other strikes were carried out, according to Adraee, on "a military building near Aita al-Shaab, as well as against a rocket launcher used during the day to launch a strike on Biranit" in the north of Israel.

"Military infrastructure near Kfar Shuba" was also targeted, the Israeli army said.

Good morning, 

Thank you for joining. We're here all day with live updates from southern Lebanon, Gaza and the wider Middle East on the 176th day of the Gaza war.