Amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a trip to Israel on October 22, urging the nation to pursue a ceasefire in Gaza. This marked his eleventh visit to the region since October 7, 2023, and his first since Israel launched its offensive against Lebanon in September, targeting Hezbollah.
The timing of Blinken’s visit is significant, as Israel grapples with the consequences of Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes on its facilities on October 1. These developments come as Israel continues its aggressive campaign in Gaza, inflicting heavy damage on the Jabalia neighborhood in the north and imposing a complete blockade on humanitarian aid for eleven consecutive days. The conflict has also spread to Lebanon, with Israel’s airstrikes causing widespread devastation and civilian casualties.
On October 22, Israel’s strikes on the Lebanese capital, Beirut, continued, even targeting the city’s southern suburbs and issuing evacuation warnings to residents. The relentless bombing has claimed the lives of at least 1,552 civilians since September 23, according to an AFP tally. The overnight attacks on October 22 alone resulted in the deaths of 28 civilians, including victims in Hermel (5), Nabatiyeh (5) and the Rafic Hariri Hospital (18), Beirut’s largest public health facility.
In response to the ongoing conflict, Hezbollah fired 140 projectiles into Israel on October 22, according to the Israel Defence Force (IDF). While no casualties were reported on the Israeli side, the IDF confirmed that the projectiles, launched from Lebanon, had crossed into Israeli territory.
The international community continues to call for a de-escalation of the conflict and a return to diplomacy. Blinken’s visit underscores the urgency of finding a peaceful resolution to the escalating crisis in the Middle East.
