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Israel's defense minister announced the creation of a special agency for the "voluntary departure" of Gaza residents after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to respect the U.S. president's plan to take control of the Palestinian territory and forcibly displace its residents, according to AFP.
"Defense Minister Israel Katz held a meeting today (Monday) on the voluntary departure of Gaza residents, following which he decided to establish a special agency for the voluntary departure of Gaza residents within the Defense Ministry," a statement from the ministry said.
The municipality of Maroun al-Ras (Bint Jbeil) asked its residents "not to enter the village before 11:00 a.m." on Tuesday. "The only authorized route to enter and exit the village will be the Bint Jbeil - Maroun al-Ras road."
Like other municipalities, it asked residents to report any suspicious objects and said that "the entry of scrap metal collection vehicles is prohibited, as well as the entry of non-Lebanese."
Like other municipalities, the municipality of Mais al-Jabal issued a statement to its residents. According to L'Orient Today's correspondent, the Lebanese army is expected to enter the town this evening. The municipality calls on its residents to be vigilant about "booby-trapped houses and unexploded ordnance" and to report any suspicious objects.
"It is not recommended to use well water for consumption, due to the presence of toxic substances," it added. Like the municipality of Blida, the municipality of Mais al-Jabal said that only Lebanese people will be allowed to enter the village and that scrap metal sellers will not be allowed.
Jordan's King Abdullah II reiterated his country's position on the future of Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, firmly rejecting "displacement, colonization and an alternative homeland," according to a statement from the Royal Hashemite Court.
The municipalities of Blida and Kfar Kila, villages in the Marjayoun district, published statements to their residents on the eve of the Israeli withdrawal.
"The exact time of our entry into the village has not yet been determined, and we are awaiting the effective entry of the Lebanese army and its deployment in all neighborhoods and streets," the Kfar Kila municipality said. "We assure you that we will organize a secure entry into the village on Wednesday morning, and the details will be specified tomorrow."
The municipality of Blida announced that the return of the inhabitants will take place tomorrow "as soon as the army has entered and taken up position in the village."
The municipality also provided a series of recommendations to follow. It specified that access to the village will only be possible through Aitaroun "once the Lebanese army has opened the roads, removed the explosive devices and carried out a security survey in the neighborhoods and houses."
It also asked residents not to touch any "suspicious objects and to report them immediately." In addition, the municipality specifies that "only Lebanese people will be allowed to enter the village" and that "scrap metal sellers" will not be allowed. "It is forbidden to take out or move objects from houses, except through their owners, after obtaining an authorization issued by the municipality," it said.
An Israeli drone fired on "suspicious vehicles" heading north from the Gaza Strip "on a road not authorized for vehicle traffic," according to an Israeli military statement.
"The army once again calls on the residents of Gaza to obey the instructions, not to approach the forces deployed in the area and to pass through the agreed checkpoint routes," the Israeli army said in a message on X.
The incident comes as Israeli forces have been accused of repeatedly violating the cease-fire since it came into effect last month. In addition to deadly attacks, they have also obstructed the delivery of humanitarian aid trucks, according to the U.N.
Meanwhile, military sources told Haaretz that the Israeli army's 162nd Division, which ended its deployment in the northern Gaza security zone on Monday, is preparing to return to combat if the second phase of the cease-fire agreement fails.
In total, four divisions are being prepared, the sources said.
The Israeli army carried out two airstrikes on a bridge located on the Khardali road, near the village of Aishieh (Jezzine).
The Israeli army blew up several homes in the villages of Blida and Odaisseh (Marjayoun), according to information from L'Orient Today's correspondent.
The Arab summit scheduled for Feb. 27 in Cairo will be postponed by about a week for technical and logistical reasons, and will therefore be held during the month of Ramadan, Palestinian sources told Haaretz.
Egypt continues preparations for summit to present "united front" against Donald Trump's Gaza plan.
The summit is expected to include direct and indirect discussions at the level of the country's leaders on the issue of establishing an "economic safety net" for Egypt and Jordan, in light of the threats by the U.S. president to cut off American funding to the two countries.
An Iranian general said that the Iranian regime could respond to the recent Israeli airstrike in October 2024 against its territory, according to Iran's state-run Mehr News Agency.
Revolutionary Guards deputy commander Ali Fadavi said Monday that the third phase of Operation True Promise will take place "in due time." Tehran has already repeatedly threatened Israel with retaliation but has so far failed to act.
On Oct. 26, 2024, Israel bombed military sites in Iran, killing four soldiers, in response to an Iranian attack involving approximately 200 missiles fired at Israel on Oct. 1. On April 13, 2024, Iran launched drones and missiles at Israel in retaliation for the deadly April 1 attack on its consulate in Damascus, attributed to Israel.
The Israeli army carried out an explosion in Mais al-Jabal (Marjayoun), L'Orient Today's correspondent reported.
The Lebanese Red Cross entered the village of Houla (Marjayoun) and found the remains of Khadija Atoui, who was killed by the Israeli army yesterday. The victim's body was transferred to the government hospital in Tebnine (Bint Jbeil).
Israel is preparing to receive the bodies of four of the eight dead hostages still being held by Hamas on Thursday, according to Axios. The American media outlet reports that an Israeli official familiar with the matter indicated that this is one of the steps planned for the 33rd day of the implementation of the Gaza cease-fire agreement.
The Israeli army carried out explosions in Yaroun (Bint Jbeil), residents reported to L'Orient Today's correspondent.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Riyadh on Monday, according to Saudi media, relayed by Reuters. The meeting began shortly before 6 p.m., according to a State Department official. Rubio was expected to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip following U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal to take control of it.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry called on all parties to "strictly respect the cease-fire" in Lebanon after the Israeli army launched a drone attack in Saida on Monday, killing a Hamas official.
Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to say that in the event of a resumption of war – which he believes is inevitable after the first phase of the cease-fire agreement – Israel would annex 10 percent of the Gaza Strip, Haaretz reports.
At a meeting, Smotrich announced that he would ask the security cabinet to warn Hamas that "Israel will open the gates of hell" if the movement does not release all hostages, leave the Gaza Strip and give up its military capabilities. The security cabinet is scheduled to meet Monday night to discuss the deal reached nearly a month ago with Hamas.
He also said his request was part of former U.S. President Donald Trump's plan for Gaza, although Trump never mentioned annexation or military occupation.
Smotrich clarified that the phrase "the gates of hell" referred to "a complete military occupation of the Gaza Strip" as well as "the inability to deliver humanitarian aid" to its territory, including the supply of "water, electricity and fuel."
The Israeli army allowed the Lebanese who left the villages of Kfar Kila, Odaisseh, Houla and Mais al-Jabal to return tomorrow. Spokesperson Nadav Shoshani, however, warned against "attempts to organize processions or even riots near the border, with Hezbollah flags."
South Lebanon
The Israeli army intends to maintain its presence “indefinitely” in the five positions inside Lebanese territory, according to the Jerusalem Post.
The Israeli media added that the troops will triple the number of soldiers deployed along the border with Lebanon compared to the start of the war, and specifies that these numbers could reach “several thousand soldiers, or even between 10,000 and 15,000, depending on the circumstances,” without giving any further details.
South Lebanon
The Israeli army is setting fire to houses in Maroun al-Ras, in the Bint Jbeil district, local residents reported noting that plumes of smoke can be seen rising from the center of the town.
Iran plane
A ministerial meeting chaired by President Joseph Aoun was held this afternoon to discuss recent security incidents, notably those on the airport road in recent days.
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, Defense Minister Michel Menassa, Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Rajji, Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar, Public Works Minister Fayez Rasamny, and head of the airport security service Fadi Kfoury
South Lebanon
The Israeli army will leave a "small number of soldiers" at five strategic sites in southern Lebanon where it seeks to maintain a presence after the Feb. 18 deadline for a full troop withdrawal, an Israeli military spokesman said Monday, as quoted by Reuters.
"We need to stay in these locations for now to defend Israeli citizens, ensure the process is completed, and hand it over to the Lebanese Army," military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said at a press conference, adding that the decision is "in line" with the cease-fire agreement mechanism.
Far-right Israeli Settlements and National Missions Minister Orit Strook says ahead of the meeting of the security cabinet that she will resign from her position if the Gaza war stops.
A member of the Religious Zionism party, Strook said this scenario would mean “Israel gives up on subduing and destroying Hamas, and we will crash into a major disaster,” according to public broadcaster Kan.
“We will not be in the government if that happens. The terrible mistake we made will have terrible consequences in people’s lives, because of the strengthening of Hamas,” Strook said.
Hundreds of former senior Israeli military officials wrote a letter addressed to the Israeli leadership and public, warning against the “irresponsibility and recklessness of renewing the war” in Gaza without a clear strategic goal.
Former Major General Matan Vilnai leads the list of 550 Israelis who backed the letter and points out that resuming the military campaign would lead to the deaths of the remaining captives in Gaza, according to the Maariv newspaper.
The daily cited the letter, saying such a war would also exhaust the army and “lead to a bloody, ongoing occupation with no end in sight and the loss of unprecedented regional opportunities,” in reference to a normalization deal with Saudi Arabia.
According to the general, the Israeli government is acting against the will of the people and giving in to the demands of an extreme minority, who wish to annex the occupied West Bank and perpetuate conflict.
South Lebanon
The Lebanese Red Cross has been authorized to enter the village of Houla (Marjayoun) to recover the body of 14-year-old Khadija Atwi, killed yesterday by Israeli fire, according to our correspondent.
Gaza
The European Union plans to announce to Israel next week its rejection of Donald Trump's plan to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza and that it will contribute to Gaza's reconstruction, according to a document seen by Reuters.
“The EU will actively contribute to a coordinated international early recovery and reconstruction effort in Gaza,” says the text, which also calls for "full humanitarian access" and the principle that "displaced persons from Gaza must be assured of a safe and dignified return to their homes in Gaza."
These discussions between European and Israeli officials are scheduled to take place in Brussels on Feb. 24 as part of the EU-Israel Association Council, a first since 2022.
South Lebanon
Hamas has confirmed the death of its senior official Mohammad Shahine in an Israeli strike this morning on a car north of Saida.
In a statement, Hamas's military wing, the Ezzeddine al-Qassam Brigades, said he had been eliminated in an “assassination carried out by Zionist aircraft in Saida.” Hamas added that Shahine had held several jihadist positions within the group.
Air France and Emirates have canceled their scheduled flights for Feb. 23, the date set for the funeral ceremonies of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and his designated successor at the time, Hashem Safieddine.
The information was confirmed to L’Orient-Le Jour by two Lebanese travel agencies and a foreign operator. Each airline had a flight scheduled to operate to and from Beirut’s airport that day. Lebanon’s Civil Aviation Authority did not respond to requests for comment.
Raymond Wehbe, head of the travel agency We Reach the World, told L’Orient-Le Jour that only these airlines’ flights on that day had been canceled. “Airlines’ decisions depend on the political and security situation, and the recent protests around the airport likely played a role,” he said.
Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that he was "committed" to U.S. President Donald Trump's plan for Gaza, which involves displacing more than two million inhabitants of the Palestinian territory.
"Just as I have committed to, on the day after the war in Gaza, there will be neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority. I am committed to U.S. President Trump's plan for the creation of a different Gaza," Netanyahu said in a statement.
Gaza
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor reported that the terrible health conditions in which Palestinians were released from Israeli prisons indicate a pattern of torture and abuse until the very last moments.
“All prisoners and detainees were released under appalling conditions by the Israeli occupation forces, who also stormed their homes and locations designated to receive and celebrate their release. They attacked family gatherings, suppressing them with tear gas and bullets and injuring some people,” the Geneva-based organization said.
Israeli violations “turned into a systematic policy of retaliation against all Palestinian prisoners and detainees” who were subjected to “severe torture, intentional starvation, and prolonged solitary confinement as part of punitive measures that ramped up brutally after the events in the Gaza Strip,” it added.
Gaza
⚡After the war, there will be “neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority” in Gaza, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, quoted by AFP.
Netanyahu added that he “must respect” Trump's plan for Gaza.
Israel
A loud explosion was heard in Haifa, Israel, according to local media and social networks. No information is yet available on the nature of the explosion.
Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah said that the Lebanese “government has an opportunity to prove its commitment to stability and that the Lebanese Army should play its role in safeguarding civil peace and confronting the Israeli enemy.”
Speaking at a commemorative ceremony for a killed Hezbollah member in Ansarieh (Saida), Fadlallah expressed “support for the government but emphasized that this should not come at the expense of Lebanon's sovereignty or the people's rights.”
Saida strike
“In a joint operation by the Israeli forces and Shin Bet, an Israeli Air Force jet recently targeted an area in Saida, eliminating Mohammad Shahine, head of Hamas' operations division in Lebanon,” Israel’s Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee said in a tweet on X.
Shahine was killed after implementing plans with “Iranian guidance and funding, originating from Lebanese territory towards Israeli civilians and Israeli forces. Shahine was considered a significant and experienced member of Hamas and was involved during the war in carrying out various…attacks, including launching rockets at Israel's home front,” Adraee said.
Gaza
The summit of five Arab countries, including Egypt and Jordan, scheduled for Thursday in Riyadh in response to Donald Trump's Gaza plan, has been postponed until Friday and expanded to include the six Gulf states, two Arab diplomats told AFP on Monday.
A Saudi official said on condition of anonymity that “the Arab mini-summit” would take place on “Feb. 21” rather than on the 20 as originally planned, specifying that it “will bring together the leaders of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, as well as Egypt and Jordan, to examine Arab alternatives to Trump's plans for Gaza.”
South Lebanon
The Israeli army is conducting sweeping operations with heavy machine guns in the Ras al-Zohar area west of the town of Mais al-Jabal (Marjayoun), while advancing with vehicles and tanks in the Hossein area west of the town, our correspondent in the South reported.
Illustration by Jaimee Lee Haddad
Ahead of tomorrow's deadline for the Israeli army to withdraw from southern Lebanon, it has yet to vacate key positions and towns along the blue line.
Cease-fire in Lebanon
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed his “fear” that the Israeli army will not withdraw completely from southern Lebanon when the cease-fire deadline expires tomorrow.
“The Israeli enemy cannot be trusted, and we fear that full withdrawal will not be achieved tomorrow. The Lebanese response will be through a unified and inclusive national position,” said Aoun from a meeting in Baabda with a delegation from the press syndicate. “The war option does not work and we will go through diplomatic means because Lebanon can no longer tolerate another war,” he added, assuring that "the army is ready to be deployed in the villages from which the Israelis will withdraw."
What matters, according to the Head of State, is that the Israeli army withdraws from southern Lebanon. For the time being, the question of Hezbollah's weapons “will be settled within the framework of solutions accepted by the Lebanese.”
South Lebanon
The six citizens trapped in Houla (Marjayoun) managed to leave the town without the Red Cross or the Lebanese Army entering, our correspondent reported noting that the body of Khadija Atwi, who was killed by the Israeli army, remains.
This comes after residents of Houla re-entered the village yesterday, previously occupied by the Israeli army, without prior authorization from the Lebanese Army. Israeli soldiers opened fire on them.
Gaza
Hamas thanked the African Union for condemning Israel’s genocide in Gaza after the bloc criticized Israel for violating international laws in its closing remarks following a two-day summit in Addis Ababa.
Hamas said it greatly appreciates the African countries’ “principled and courageous position” against Israel and its “monstrous” actions in Gaza.
The group said it considers its stance a natural response given its history of struggle against “colonialism and injustice.”
In its statement, the AU said it opposed the violation of international laws and “the targeting of civilians and infrastructure by Israel.”
“Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people and must be held accountable in international courts,” the statement read.
Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesman, Omer Dostri, wrote on X that Palestinian Authority control of Gaza is "not going to happen," in response to a report saying Hamas is willing to transfer control of the Strip to the PA.
Saida strike
The site of the strike is just a few meters from the city's public beach and the AUST university premises, according to the location determined by Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) researcher Ahmad Baydoun.
Saida strike
⚡ Al-Hadath reported on speculations that Hamas military official Mohammed Shahine was the one killed in the Israeli attack on a car north of Saida.
South Lebanon
According to residents, an Israeli aircraft hit Robb Thalathin (Marjayoun), where locals and municipal teams were working to clean the town's streets. No injuries were reported.
Saida strike
The car was targeted just meters away from a Lebanese Army post along the coastal road, our correspondent reported. The strike killed the car's driver, and three civilians were injured.
Saida strike
The owner of a coffee shop across from the targeted car told L'Orient Today: "Suddenly, there was a powerful explosion and heavy smoke. I didn't know what had happened, but after a few moments, it became clear that it was a targeted car, and flames broke out."
Parts of the targeted car were scattered over dozens of meters. (Credit: Muntasser Abdallah/L'Orient Today)
South Lebanon
The driver of the car targeted by Israel was killed, our correspondent on the scene reported. The vehicle, a Hyundai, was hit by a guided missile, causing it to be completely destroyed and burned. Parts of the car were scattered over dozens of meters.
The Lebanese Army and forensic evidence teams are at the scene, beginning to inspect the vehicle, our correspondent reported.
Citizens, Civil Defense, as well as the Lebanese Red Cross also gathered at the site immediately.
South Lebanon
An Israeli drone struck Kfar Shuba, causing no injuries, according to information from our correspondent.
Iran
Tehran condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's comments stating that Israel wants to “finish the job” against Iran, during a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Jerusalem, reports AFP.
“Threatening others is a flagrant violation of international law and the U.N. Charter,” Iranian diplomatic spokesman Esmail Baghai told reporters, adding that Israel "can do nothing" against Iran.
Gaza
Hamas said it's ready to transfer control of the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian Authority and the "Governmental Committee for the Administration of Gaza," according to a Sky News Arabic report from last night, cited by Haaretz.
On Saturday, Egyptian media reported that the Egyptian government had strongly pressured Hamas to agree to create a temporary committee to oversee the implementation of the Gaza Strip reconstruction plan. According to reports attributed to Egyptian sources familiar with the negotiations, Hamas assured Egyptian officials that it would respect the cease-fire and not interfere in the committee’s work.
Syria
Interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa visited Latakia and Tartous yesterday, marking his first official trip to these provinces, which were the stronghold of ousted President Bashar al-Assad. Sharaa met with local dignitaries, according to the Syrian presidency, which published photos. The official Telegram account of Latakia province also posted images showing thousands of people gathered along the route of the Syrian leader’s convoy.
Syria
The United States has killed a leader of the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda, Hurras al-Din, which recently announced its dissolution, the U.S. military said last night, as reported by AFP.
CENTCOM, the U.S. military command for the Middle East, stated on the social media platform X that it had "targeted and killed" a senior official responsible for finances and logistics for the terrorist organization Hurras al-Din (HaD), in northwestern Syria on Saturday. The identity of the jihadist leader was not disclosed.
Gaza
The Israeli cabinet is set to meet today to discuss the continuation of the cease-fire agreement in Gaza and has announced it will send negotiators to Cairo following talks in Jerusalem with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to AFP.
Rubio, set to visit Saudi Arabia today, said, "Hamas cannot remain a military or governmental force (…) it must be eliminated." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed this statement, threatening to open the "gates of hell" for Hamas and "finish the job" with Iran.
South Lebanon
In Kfar Shuba, in the Hasbaya district, where the Lebanese Army is deployed, an Israeli patrol infiltrated the center of the town.
In Mais al-Jabal (Marjayoun), residents reported that the Israeli army withdrew from the western part of the village toward its center. However, the area remains closed pending a full Israeli withdrawal and the deployment of the Lebanese Army.
South Lebanon
Meanwhile, the Israeli army carried out three large explosions in Kfar Kila (Marjayoun), set houses on fire in Odaisseh (Marjayoun), and conducted excavation and embankment construction on the heights of Blat, near Ramieh, in the Marjayoun district, according to our correspondent. This location is one of five "strategic" points where the Israeli army intends to maintain a presence.
South Lebanon
The body of Khadija Atwi, the woman killed the previous day by Israeli fire, remains in Houla, which the Lebanese Army and rescue teams have not yet entered. A first attempt by the army and the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to enter the town was denied by Israel, according to its mayor.
South Lebanon
Among the civilians still trapped in Houla are Hanane Atwi, the sister of the woman killed yesterday, her two children, her husband, as well as an unidentified man and woman, according to the mayor. Their fate remains unknown. Contact was made with the trapped civilians overnight before their phones went dead.
Additionally, three more people were taken by Israeli soldiers, including two paramedics from the al-Rissala Scouts, an organization affiliated with the Amal Movement. Municipal police officer Hassan Hammoud and another person from the Koteich family were released Sunday evening.
South Lebanon
Yesterday residents of Houla re-entered the village previously occupied by the Israeli army without prior authorization from the Lebanese Army. Israeli soldiers opened fire on them, killing one woman. While most of the local residents were able to flee, six remain trapped in the village by the Israeli army, according to the mayor of Houla, Chakib Koteich, contacted this morning by our correspondent in the South.
Good morning. Thank you for joining us for today's live coverage of the cease-fires in Lebanon and Gaza and the events in the region. Make sure to read today's Morning Brief to catch up on the main events that happened over the weekend.
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