Israel Intensifies Attacks on Southern Lebanon, Killing at Least 16

Kathmandu. Israel has intensified its attacks on southern Lebanon. According to Lebanese health officials, at least 16 people were killed and 58 injured in the latest attack. 

Along with the attack, Israel has ordered a large number of residents of the southern region to be displaced.

According to Lebanon's state news agency National News Agency, six members of the same family were killed in an Israeli drone attack on the Adaloun highway connecting Saidon and Tyre on Thursday morning while trying to flee. The family was targeted while going to a safe place from the southern region.

Israel has expanded its bombing across southern Lebanon in recent days. It is reported that air strikes are being carried out continuously on residential areas, roads, and civilian infrastructure. The Lebanese army has confirmed that one of its soldiers was killed in an Israeli attack in the Nabatieh region. In recent days, soldiers have also been targeted in attacks in southern Lebanon and the western Bekaa Valley.

Israel has issued orders to vacate many parts of the south, including Tyre. Publishing a list of marked buildings through social media, residents have been asked to go north of the Jaharani River immediately. This area is about 40 kilometers away from the Lebanon-Israel border.

Thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes following the displacement order. Many areas of Tyre city have already been vacated. Local residents are said to be in a state of panic due to continuous bombing.

Reporting from Tyre, journalist Obeida Hito said that more than a dozen attacks have occurred in the city and surrounding areas since midnight. According to him, Tyre is now almost deserted as most people have left the city.

On Wednesday night, Israeli air strikes caused a fire in a building and a cafe in Tyre. Rescuers are continuing to search for the injured and dead in the rubble.

Although the Israeli army claims to have targeted Hezbollah's 'infrastructure', the attacks are repeatedly occurring in civilian settlements and densely populated areas.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has warned that Israel's extensive displacement order and attacks on urban centers have put civilians at grave risk. The organization stated that this has deepened the humanitarian crisis.

Reporting from Beirut, Al Jazeera correspondent Zeina Khodr said that the ceasefire that came into effect last month with American mediation has become ineffective. According to her, the ceasefire, which is only on paper, has not been able to stop the violence. She said that the most intense bombing since the beginning of the recent conflict in early March has been seen in the last three-four days.

Meanwhile, negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, mediated by the United States, are scheduled to resume on Thursday. Although it was initially said that technical discussions would take place and broader talks would be advanced in early June, the recent military actions have raised questions about the diplomatic efforts themselves.

Local residents are demanding that the Lebanese government take a tougher stance in the negotiations. However, it is said that the possibility of this is low in the current situation.

At least 10 people, including four children, killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza

At least 10 people, including four children, were killed in Israeli airstrikes in northern Gaza. According to health officials, more than 20 people were injured in the attack targeting a residential building in Gaza City on Wednesday night.

Despite claims of a ceasefire, Israel continues to attack Gaza almost daily. The latest attack has spread further fear among Gazans. Reporting from Gaza City, Al Jazeera correspondent Hind Khoudary said that some children were playing in a nearby park at the time of the attack. According to her, many parents are afraid to leave their homes or temporary shelters with their children due to the fear of continuous bombing.

This attack occurred a few hours after the funeral of Hamas military wing chief Mohammed Odeh. Odeh was killed in an Israeli attack in Gaza City on Tuesday. It is reported that his wife and son were also killed in that attack.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Odeh was the head of Hamas's intelligence during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. According to him, Odeh was given the leadership of the Hamas military wing a few days ago after Israel killed former military chief Ezz al-Din al-Haddad.

Odeh's relative Abu al-Abd Odeh told Reuters news agency that the situation in Gaza is extremely dire. He called the claims of the war stopping 'lies and illusions' and said that there has been no improvement in the lives of Gazans.

According to local officials, Israel has committed more than 3,000 violations since the ceasefire that came into effect last October. According to data released by Gaza's government media office on Wednesday, Israel is accused of a total of 3,005 serious violations during the 227 days since the ceasefire came into effect.

According to the office, out of the 135,600 relief trucks that should have entered Gaza according to the ceasefire agreement, only 49,973 trucks have been allowed to enter so far, which is only about 36 percent.

There are also growing concerns that a full-scale war could erupt again between Israel and Hamas. Both sides are accusing each other of violating the ceasefire. Israel says the problem is not resolved because Hamas has not surrendered its weapons, while Hamas says the talks are stalled because Israel continues to attack and block aid supplies.