 "At least five individuals were killed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City overnight and early on Thursday, according to medical staff at Al-Mamdani Hospital and the civil defense agency of the area administered by Hamas Image Courtesy AP")
Israel warned Hamas’s ally Hezbollah in Lebanon not to engage in a major conflict that would drive the neighboring nation “back to the Stone Age” before launching airstrikes on Gaza on Thursday.
During a visit to Washington, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant made the remark and spoke about the Gaza war, ongoing efforts to reach a truce, and strategies to prevent a wider regional conflict.
Gallant emphasized that “we do not want war, but we are preparing for every scenario” in light of the escalating cross-border tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran.
“Hezbollah understands very well that we can inflict massive damage in Lebanon if a war is launched,” he said of the Shiite militant group that, like Hamas, is backed by Israel’s arch foe Iran.
Since Hamas’s onslaught on October 7, which set off the worst Gaza war in history, Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged cross-border gunfire almost every day.
However, since Israel said this month that its plans for a conflict with Lebanon are prepared, tensions have increased, leading Hezbollah to threaten that no part of Israel would be safe in the case of an all-out war.
Gallant was informed this week by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that a fight with Hezbollah may have “terrible consequences for the Middle East” and that a diplomatic solution was advised.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsUN humanitarian coordinator Martin Griffiths warned that Lebanon was “the flashpoint beyond all flashpoints” and that a full war would be “potentially apocalyptic”.
Germany has reiterated warnings it first made immediately after October 7 and joined Canada in recommending its people living in Lebanon to leave the country.
Hezbollah claimed six attacks against Israeli military positions during the most recent clashes on Wednesday, while Lebanese media recorded roughly ten Israeli strikes close to the border.
A US official stated that Washington thought that none of the parties were seeking a “major escalation” and that Washington was having “fairly intensive conversations” with Israel, Lebanon, and other parties.
Despite remarks made on Sunday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggesting that the “intense phase” of the battle was coming to an end, the Gaza war, which is at the center of regional tensions, continued.
At least five individuals were killed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City overnight and early on Thursday, according to medical staff at Al-Mamdani Hospital and the civil defense agency of the area administered by Hamas.
According to paramedics, a warplane hit a residence in Beit Lahia, killing one person.
There were reports of Israeli ground vehicles approaching the Shujayia market in northern Gaza on Thursday, along with heavy fighting, artillery shelling, and helicopter fire.
There has been “a significant displacement of residents” in Gaza, according to the press office of Hamas, and people “are fleeing to areas of refuge in Gaza City that are already overcrowded.”
The situation in Shujayia was described as “extremely difficult and frightening after the arrival of occupation (Israeli) vehicles and air fire” by an unnamed witness to the news agency AFP.