Amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East, Israel has taken a firm stance, rejecting a US-backed ceasefire proposal and intensifying its military operations in both Lebanon and Gaza.
In Lebanon, Israel’s focus is on preventing the flow of Iranian arms to Hezbollah militants. Air Force Commander Major General Tomer Bar declared, “In Lebanon, we’re going to prevent any possibility of arms transfers in Lebanon from Iran.” He stressed that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s confidence hinges on the continued supply of arms from Iran.
Simultaneously, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are carrying out extensive military operations in Gaza, targeting Hamas, which Israel considers a terrorist organization. On Thursday, the IDF announced the killing of two Hamas militants involved in the October 7 attacks, where Hamas abducted over 250 Israelis and caused the deaths of approximately 1,200 people. Reports suggest Hamas has ceased responding to ceasefire proposals or hostage negotiations.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate with the Gazan health ministry estimating over 41,534 deaths since October. At the UN General Assembly, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed world leaders, highlighting the devastating impact of the IDF onslaughts, including water shortages, widespread disease, and dwindling medical supplies. Both the US and IDF blame Hamas for stealing first aid shipments.
Abbas also appeared to challenge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s earlier claim that “every civilian death is a tragedy; for Hamas, it’s a strategy.” Both sides accuse each other of using civilians as human shields. Abbas countered Netanyahu’s statement, asking, “Who is it then that killed more than 15,000 children of the 40,000 and an equal number of women and elderly persons. And who is it then that is continuing to kill them, I ask you?” The conflict has displaced over 2 million Palestinians.
The situation in Lebanon is equally dire, with reports of over 600 Lebanese deaths in recent days. A joint statement by world leaders at the UN General Assembly labeled the fighting in Lebanon as “intolerable” and “an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation.” The statement called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire across the Lebanon-Israel border to facilitate diplomatic efforts.
However, Netanyahu rejected the plea, instructing the IDF to fight “at full power.” The escalating situation raises concerns about a potential ground invasion in Lebanon, with Israel reportedly mobilizing reserve brigades.
