Politics Israeli army continues attacks in Lebanon and Gaza
While Israel's army prepares for a retaliatory strike against Iran's missile attack, it continues to launch fierce attacks against pro-Iranian militias in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. In Lebanon, the air force flew "a series of targeted attacks" on a number of Hezbollah weapons depots and "terrorist infrastructure facilities" in the area of the capital Beirut during the night, the army announced in the morning. Prior to this, several measures had been taken to reduce the danger to civilians. The information could not initially be independently verified.
06.10.2024, 05:15
06.10.2024, 09:27
SDA
In an area in the center of the Gaza Strip, two command centers of the Islamist Hamas were also attacked, the army announced earlier. One was located in a former school, the other in a former mosque. Even before these "precise" attacks, the armed forces had taken numerous measures to reduce the danger to civilians, the Israeli army explained. According to Arab reports, at least 24 people were killed and dozens injured in the area. Neither the Arab reports nor the information provided by the Israeli army could initially be independently verified.
Macron calls for halt to arms deliveries to Israel
With regard to the Gaza war, French President Macron called for a halt to the supply of weapons to Israel. It is a priority to return to a political solution and stop supplying weapons for the fighting in the Gaza Strip, Macron said on the radio station France Inter. France would not supply any weapons. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promptly criticized Macron sharply and spoke of a "disgrace".
While Western heads of state and government like Macron were calling for arms embargoes against Israel, Iran was not imposing such an embargo on Hezbollah or the Houthi militia in Yemen, Netanyahu said, adding, according to his office: "Israel will win with or without their support". While his country fights against "the forces of barbarism led by Iran, all civilized countries should stand firmly by Israel's side".
However, as the French television station BFMTV reported after the Macron interview, citing the presidential palace, France will continue to supply Israel with defense equipment, especially for missile defense. The Times of Israel quoted a statement from the French presidential palace according to which Macron "supports Israel's security". Iran or one of its proxies would not be allowed to attack Israel, it said.
Netanyahu: Response to Iran's missile attack is coming
Netanyahu confirmed that there will be a response to the latest Iranian missile attack. He did not comment on the timing or nature of the response. "No country in the world would accept such an attack on its cities and citizens," he said. "Israel has the duty and the right to defend itself," Netanyahu said in a speech at the military headquarters in the coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv. The military is "in the midst of planning a response" that will be "significant", reported the Times of Israel. It is feared that the entire region could become embroiled in a war with serious consequences.
The commander of US troops in the Middle East, General Michael Erik Kurilla, arrived in Israel to consult with military representatives during the Israeli army's preparations, reported the Times of Israel. The USA is Israel's most important ally. Meanwhile, the army and Hezbollah continue to attack each other in Lebanon. The explosions of the renewed Israeli attacks in the Beirut area could be heard throughout the city, a dpa reporter reported. The army accused Hezbollah of deliberately hiding weapons production facilities and weapons under residential buildings "in the heart" of the capital, thereby endangering the civilian population in the area.
According to the army, the militia had previously fired on Israel again. In the Kiriat Shmona area in northern Israel, around 30 shells were identified as having entered Israeli territory. Some had been intercepted, others had fallen. The militia had previously fired around 130 missiles towards Israel. This information from the Israeli military could not initially be independently verified either.
"We must continue to exert pressure on Hezbollah and inflict further and continuous damage on the enemy, without concessions and without rest for the organization," said Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi. Israel fears that the Hezbollah militia could recover from the recent heavy blows and regroup in the event of a ceasefire. It wants to drive the militia away from the border so that the 60,000 or so Israelis evacuated from there can return.
Macron wants to organize conference to support Lebanon
In view of the fighting, the French President wants to organize an international conference to support Lebanon. It is to take place in October, French media quoted Macron as saying. The aim of the conference is to provide humanitarian aid and strengthen security in the south of Lebanon. At a summit of francophone countries, Macron was quoted by Europe 1 radio as saying that there was unanimous support for an immediate and lasting ceasefire and a commitment to de-escalating tensions in the region.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan about the highly explosive situation in the Middle East. The focus was on the implementation of a UN resolution on the return of civilians who have fled to the Israeli-Lebanese border and international support for the Lebanese armed forces and the UN observer mission Unifil, according to Blinken's ministry. The Unifil mission has been monitoring the border area between Israel and Lebanon for decades.
Thousands demonstrate again in Israel for hostage deal
Shortly before the first anniversary of the Hamas massacre on October 7, thousands demonstrated again in Israel in favor of a deal with Hamas for the release of the remaining hostages. Many participants fear that the fate of the hostages will be forgotten in view of the fighting in Lebanon. The rallies were not as large as usual, as there are restrictions on gatherings in many places due to the security situation.
"One year and they are still not here", read one poster at the rally in Tel Aviv. Relatives of the hostages accuse Prime Minister Netanyahu of sabotaging a deal with Hamas and bowing to the demands of his ultra-religious and far-right coalition partners. They are against making concessions to the Islamist organization. Netanyahu is dependent on them for his political survival.
On October 7, 2023, terrorists from Hamas and other extremist groups killed more than 1,200 people in Israel and took around 250 others hostage in Gaza. This triggered the war. Since then, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority, around 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza. The figure does not distinguish between fighters and civilians and is almost impossible to verify.
