Israel destroying northern Gaza in new offensive: UN
The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) has said that Israel’s actions in northern Gaza “may be causing the destruction of the Palestinian population in Gaza’s northernmost governorate through death and displacement”.
The UN is especially worried about Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahiya. In Beit Lahiya, over 87 Palestinians were killed or reported missing after an Israeli strike demolished a residential block.
“Appalling news from northern Gaza where Palestinians continue to endure unspeakable horrors under siege by Israeli forces,” the UN’s acting humanitarian chief Joyce Msuya said on X.
Gaza’s civil defence agency on Saturday said a brutal new Israeli military operation had killed more than 400 people in two weeks in the north.
In Lebanon, at least 12 Israeli missiles struck Beirut’s southern suburbs, following attacks that left at least 16 dead across Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
The UN reported that an Israeli bulldozer destroyed an observation tower used by UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, marking the latest assault on the UN’s Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Gaza civil defence: Crews recovered bodies in Rafah
Three bodies have been recovered in Khirbet al-Adas and Moraj, located in Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city.
A statement on Telegram did not specify the cause of death, but Israeli forces have been active in the area, with clashes reported between troops and Palestinian fighters.
Despite an International Court of Justice (ICJ) order to halt the military operation, Israel has continued its attacks on Rafah since May.
Israeli forces kill two in attack on north Gaza City
At least two Palestinians were killed, and others injured, in an Israeli attack northwest of Gaza City, Palestinian news agency Wafa reports.
According to local residents, Israeli artillery shelled homes in the as-Saftawi area, causing the deaths.
Multiple explosions also hit Gaza City and the northern parts of the enclave.
These attacks occurred amid the ongoing Israeli siege of northern Gaza, now in its 17th day.
Iran complains to UN nuclear watchdog about Israeli threats
Iran has written to the U.N. nuclear watchdog to complain about Israel’s threats against its nuclear sites, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday at a weekly news conference.
“Threats to attack nuclear sites are against U.N. resolutions…. and are condemned… we have sent a letter about it to… the U.N. nuclear watchdog,” Baghaei said in the televised news conference.
Iran launched its Oct. 1 missile attack to retaliate against Israeli strikes targeting its allies Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.
It was the second Iranian attack on Israel this year; Israel responded to the first missile volley in April with an air strike on an air defence site in central Iran.
Iran rejects Lebanon’s accusation of interference in affairs
Iran denied Monday an accusation from Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati that it was interfering in Beirut’s internal affairs over remarks attributed to Tehran’s speaker of parliament.
“Iran has never had any intention or (taken any) action that could be suspected of interfering in the internal affairs of Lebanon,” said Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei during a weekly news conference.
Iran’s Araghchi to travel to Bahrain, Kuwait: spokesperson
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi will travel to Bahrain and Kuwait on Monday, ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said at a weekly press conference.
US envoy Hochstein to hold ceasefire talks with Lebanese
U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein will hold talks with Lebanese officials in Beirut on Monday on conditions for a ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, two sources told news agency Reuters, as Israel expanded its air campaign on the group’s assets overnight.
While Hochstein is likely to push for calm after a year of fighting during which Israel killed leaders of both Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, the US has made it clear it will show unwavering support for Israel despite rising death tolls.
Hochstein is set to meet Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati and speaker of parliament Nabih Berri on Monday.
Berri told the Al-Arabiya broadcaster over the weekend that Hochstein’s visit was “the last chance before the U.S. elections” to reach a truce and said he would reject any amendments to United Nations resolution 1701, which ended the last bloody conflict between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006.
Israel gives US demands for ending Lebanon war: Axios
Israel gave the United States a document last week with its conditions for a diplomatic solution to end the war in Lebanon, Axios reported on Sunday, citing two US officials and two Israeli officials.
White House Special envoy Amos Hochsteien is visiting Beirut on Monday to discuss a diplomatic solution to the conflict, the report added.
THAAD anti-missile system ‘in place’ in Israel, US says
The U.S. military has rushed its advanced anti-missile system to Israel and it is now “in place”, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said.
Austin declined to say whether the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, or THAAD was operational. But he added: “We have the ability to put it into operation very quickly and we’re on pace with our expectations.”
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin [Getty]
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