Israel prevents farmers from harvesting olives, injures child, sets school on fire

SOUTH LEBANON — The Israeli army ordered on Thursday farmers from Kfar Shuba, a village on the edge of the Israeli-occupied zone in south Lebanon, to wait for authorization to begin their olive harvest, according to our correspondent.

According to witnesses, an Israeli unit intercepted a group of Kfar Shuba residents heading to olive groves near the village and told them to wait until Sunday for authorization from the “Mechanism,” which coordinates between the Lebanese Army and the Israeli army.

Israel has barred access to vast areas of Lebanese territory, hindering the work of farmers and emergency services, mostly using fire.

The Union of Municipalities of Arkoub, a region in the eastern sector of the border zone, had called on farmers to gather Thursday morning and head to their land together, accompanied by the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). However, neither the troops nor the peacekeepers showed up, according to the union.

Israel sets school on fire near Nabatieh

Meanwhile, Israel continued its attacks across south Lebanon on Thursday. In the afternoon, a loud explosion rang out in the Zebqine valley (Sour district). Israeli forces set houses on fire on the outskirts of Braasheet (Bint Jbeil).

Earlier in the day, Israel launched airstrikes on Kfar Tibnit (Nabatieh), and artillery fire on Jarmak (Jezzine).

In the morning, Israeli artillery fire hit the outskirts of Aita al-Jabal (Bint Jbeil), outside the occupied “buffer zone,” as well as Beit Yahoun.

An Israeli strike between Beit Yahoun and the neighboring village of Haddatha wounded two civilians, including a child, the previous day, according to our correspondent and the Health Ministry. Israeli attacks have intensified in recent days around Haddatha and the neighboring villages of Haris and Beit Yahoun.

Shells also fell on the Zebqine valley and Wadi Slouqi, between Houla and Shaqra (Marjayoun).

Late Wednesday, Israeli forces set fire to al-Kaouthar School in Kfar Tibnit (Nabatieh). The attack came before a night of bombardments across several areas of south Lebanon and low-flying Israeli fighter jets.

Two overnight Israeli airstrikes hit Mansouri (Sour). Israel also targeted the village with artillery and machine-gun fire Thursday morning, according to our correspondent.

Israeli airstrikes also hit Wadi Hujeir (Marjayoun) and the outskirts of Dabshe and Dohat Kfar Roummane (Nabatieh).

Germany contributes another 5 million euros to Lebanese Army program

Israeli attacks continue daily in south Lebanon despite the cease-fire reached in June, after several months of war between Hezbollah and Israel. A framework agreement signed by Lebanon and Israel in June provides for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon in exchange for the Lebanese Army disarming Hezbollah. However, implementation remains stalled in the first three villages designated as “pilot zones.” The sides last held negotiations in August and have not set a date for the next round of discussions.

Despite the stalled process, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced Thursday that Germany would contribute an additional 5 million euros to support stability in Lebanon through the Lebanese Army. The new funding brings Germany’s total contribution to the program to 10 million euros.

The funding will provide “equipment for clearing rubble and defusing explosive munitions” and support access to food, health care, education and housing for military personnel and their families, the UNDP said.

The program receives contributions from Germany, the European Union, Spain, France, Norway, Denmark and Japan.