Hamas attacks from southern Lebanon, tightening restrictions on Syrians, cease-fire deal on the table: Everything you need to know to start your Tuesday

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Catch up on yesterday’s LIVE coverage of Day 206 of the Gaza war here.

Hamas claimed a cross-border attack from southern Lebanon targeting Israeli barracks. The Israeli army told AFP it struck back the purported site from which the attack was launched, noting that Hamas's attack did not cause injuries or damage. Israeli attacks continued to hit southern Lebanese towns while Hezbollah announced further cross-border strikes. A day after French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne’s visit to Beirut, Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah repeated the party’s framing of foreign diplomats’ attempts to quell border conflicts as solely benefiting Israel. Hezbollah has repeatedly said it would not stop cross-border attacks until Israel stops its campaign on Gaza.

The Civil Defense announced the recovery of two drowned men’s remains from the Raouche and Jnah shores (Beirut), stating it is continuing its search for another swimmer missing since Saturday. Civil Defense Director General Raymond Khattar, on-site yesterday, called for an expanded search after continuous effort, night and day, to find the missing swimmers, Samir Yazbeck, head of the Civil Defense marine unit, confirmed to L'Orient Today. Nazih Rayess, the director of Ramlet al-Baida, Beirut’s sole public beach, told L’Orient Today a lifeguard on duty on Saturday attempted to dissuade the seven swimmers from entering the water in line with a swimming ban motivated by tumultuous waters. Four swimmers were brought ashore Saturday, Rayess continued, after Cedar for Care rescuers noticed them struggling. In the last 10 days, seven people have drowned or gone missing while swimming off Lebanese shores.

“Municipalities, where [Lebanese Forces] MPs are active, are doing the right thing,” party legislator Sethrida Geagea said, calling for further action by security forces to supplement the wave of recently tightened restrictions targeting Syrians. During a meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, the LF delegation, as per Geagea’s statement, insisted security forces and General Security “apply the law to any foreigner illegally present in Lebanon.” After several statements calling the international community to consider Syria safe for return, Mikati is set to meet on Thursday with European Union President Ursula von der Leyen and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides – who chastized Lebanon for insufficient border controls facing an influx of migrants arriving in Cyprus after border crossings supposedly departing from Lebanese shores. Over the past month, the Lebanese government announced plans for mass deportations of Syrians who do not fit its criteria for being among the “actual displaced.” Simultaneously, municipalities tightened restrictions on Syrians ranging from bans on gatherings to strict conditions to access housing, work and official documents. Earlier this month, Syrians in Lebanon were threatened with beatings, forcible eviction and informal checkpoints after Lebanese Forces official Pascal Sleiman was found killed and abducted to Syria. Last April, international organizations decried mass detentions and deportations targeting Syrians in Lebanon, warning that returnees to Syria face grave danger.

At least 34,488 people have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, according to the latest figures from the enclave’s Health Ministry. Israel continued its bombing of Gaza, striking Rafah again as daily strikes over the past week have killed dozens in the densely populated southernmost city, crowded with displaced Palestinians. Following Friday's talks between Israel and Egypt, the latest cease-fire deal proposes a 40-day halt to hostilities and the release of thousands of Palestinians held in Israeli jails in exchange for Hamas freeing Israeli hostages, Reuters reported citing British Foreign Secretary David Cameron. The New York Times, citing three Israeli officials, claimed Israel was seeking the release of 33 people from the estimated 133 hostages still held by Hamas since Oct. 7 – among whom nearly 30 captives are thought to have died. The latest cease-fire talks seemingly overcame weeks of deadlocked negotiations as Israel expressed increased readiness for a ground invasion of Rafah while facing pressure from its citizens to return hostages. The United Nations agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) warned of the risk of disease in Gaza where waste is piling up and running water is scarce as refugees in Rafah, where 1.5 million people have been displaced south by Israel’s onslaught, told AFP they face unbearable heat and insect swarms.

In case you missed it, here’s our must-read story from yesterday: “Is Lebanon witnessing a surge in crime?”

Compiled by Abbas Mahfouz