A lady mourns over the our bodies of victims from an Israeli airstrike outdoors a hospital in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, Sunday Nov. 17, 2024.
Abdel Kareem Hana/AP/AP
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Abdel Kareem Hana/AP/AP
BEIRUT — A uncommon Israeli airstrike on central Beirut killed Hezbollah’s chief spokesman Sunday, an official with the militant group stated. Earlier, officers stated Israeli strikes killed at the very least 12 individuals within the Gaza Strip, the place Israel has been at battle with the Palestinian Hamas for over a yr.
The newest in focused killings of senior Hezbollah officers got here as Lebanese officers thought-about a United States-led cease-fire proposal. Israel additionally bombed a number of buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs, the place Hezbollah has lengthy been headquartered, after warning individuals to evacuate.
Mohammed Afif, the top of media relations for Hezbollah, was killed in a strike on the Arab socialist Baath get together’s workplace in central Beirut, based on a Hezbollah official who was not approved to temporary reporters and spoke on situation of anonymity.
Afif had been particularly seen after all-out battle erupted between Israel and Hezbollah in September and the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike. Final month, Afif rapidly wrapped up a press convention in Beirut forward of Israeli strikes.
Screams in central Beirut
Smoke rises between buildings hit in a Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, within the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024.
Hussein Malla/AP/AP
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Hussein Malla/AP/AP
There was no Israeli evacuation warning earlier than the strike close to a busy intersection in central Beirut. An Related Press photographer on the scene noticed 4 our bodies and 4 wounded individuals, however there was no official phrase on the toll. Folks may very well be seen fleeing. There was no remark from the Israeli navy.
“I used to be asleep and awoke from the sound of the strike, and other people screaming, and vehicles and gunfire,” stated Suheil Halabi, a witness. “I used to be startled, actually. That is the primary time I expertise it so shut.”
The final Israeli strike in central Beirut was on Oct. 10, when 22 individuals had been killed in two areas.
Hezbollah started firing rockets, missiles and drones into Israel the day after Hamas’ October 7, 2023 assault ignited the battle in Gaza. Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes in Lebanon and the battle steadily escalated, erupting into battle in September. Israeli forces invaded Lebanon on Oct. 1.
Hezbollah has fired dozens of projectiles into Israel day by day and expanded their vary to central Israel. The assaults have killed at the very least 76 individuals, together with 31 troopers, and brought about some 60,000 individuals to flee.
Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service stated an adolescent suffered blast accidents Sunday in Higher Galilee. Israel’s navy stated about 15 projectiles had entered from Lebanon following sirens within the Galilee areas.
Greater than 3,400 individuals have been killed in Lebanon, based on the Well being Ministry, and over 1.2 million pushed from their houses. It’s not identified how lots of the lifeless are Hezbollah fighters.
Residents and rescuers collect close to a broken constructing on the website of an Israeli airstrike in central Beirut’s Ras el-Nabaa neighborhood, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024.
Hassan Ammar/AP/AP
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Hassan Ammar/AP/AP
Lebanon’s military, largely on the sidelines, stated an Israeli strike on Sunday hit a navy heart in southeastern Al-Mari, killing two troopers and wounding two others. There was no fast Israeli remark.
In a single day strikes in central Gaza kill 12
Israeli strikes killed six individuals in Nuseirat and 4 in Bureij, two built-up refugee camps in central Gaza relationship again to the 1948 battle surrounding Israel’s creation.
Two individuals had been killed in a strike on Gaza’s important north-south freeway, based on Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital within the central metropolis of Deir al-Balah, which acquired all 12 our bodies.
Israel’s navy stated two troopers had been killed in northern Gaza on Sunday.
The battle between Israel and Hamas started after Palestinian militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7. final yr, killing about 1,200 individuals — principally civilians — and abducting round 250 others. Round 100 hostages stay in Gaza, a few third believed to be lifeless.
The Well being Ministry in Gaza says round 43,800 Palestinians have been killed within the battle. The ministry doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants however has stated ladies and kids make up greater than half the fatalities.
Round 90% of Gaza’s inhabitants of two.3 million Palestinians have been displaced, and huge areas of the territory have been flattened by Israeli bombardment and floor operations.
Pope Francis has referred to as for an investigation to find out if Israel’s assaults in Gaza represent genocide, based on excerpts launched Sunday from an upcoming ebook.
3 arrested after flares fired at Netanyahu’s residence
Folks collect to protest towards Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s authorities and name for the discharge of hostages held within the Gaza Strip by the Hamas militant group, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024.
Francisco Seco/AP/AP
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Francisco Seco/AP/AP
Israeli police arrested three suspects after two flares had been fired in a single day at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s non-public residence within the coastal metropolis of Caesarea.
Netanyahu and his household weren’t there, authorities stated. A drone launched by Hezbollah struck the residence final month, additionally when Netanyahu and his household had been away.
The police didn’t present particulars concerning the suspects, however officers pointed to home political critics of Netanyahu.
Netanyahu has confronted months of mass protests. Critics blame him for the safety and intelligence failures that allowed the Oct. 7 assault to occur and for not reaching a cope with Hamas to launch hostages.
His authorities additionally faces anger from the ultra-Orthodox group over navy draft notices. Some protested Sunday within the ultra-Orthodox metropolis of Bnei Brak close to Tel Aviv after the federal government stated 7,000 new notices could be issued.
Israeli minister seems to revive judiciary overhaul
Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin seized on the flare assault to name for a revival of his plans to overtake the judiciary, which had sparked mass protests earlier than the battle.
“The time has come to supply full assist for the restoration of the justice system and the legislation enforcement techniques, and to place an finish to anarchy, rampage, refusal and makes an attempt to hurt the prime minister,” he stated in a press release.
Supporters stated the judiciary adjustments intention to strengthen democracy by circumscribing the authority of unelected judges and turning over extra powers to elected officers. Opponents see the overhaul as an influence seize by Netanyahu, who’s on trial on corruption fees and for an assault on a key watchdog.
Many Israelis imagine the divisions brought on by the tried overhaul had weakened the nation forward of the Hamas assault.