English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For October 07/2024
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

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Bible Quotations For today
Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit
John 12/20-25: “Among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on October 06-07/2024
Elias Bejjani/Text & Video: The End of Iran’s Reign of Terror and Hezbollah's Demise
Elias Bejjani/A thousand salutes to journalist Mariam Majdouline and every free, sovereign Lebanese who embodies her courage. We stand firmly by her side against a corrupt and compromised judiciary.
Esmail Qaani missing: Did Israel kill Soleimani's successor in Beirut?
Macron responds to Netanyahu's accusations
23 killed in Israeli strikes across Lebanon on Saturday
Beirut's Southern Suburbs: Over 25 Raids in One Night
Intense Israeli Shelling and Airstrikes Target Southern Lebanon and Beirut Suburbs
Israel pounds Dahieh in major overnight airstrikes
Hochstein denies 'green light' to Israel, stresses need for diplomacy
UN refugee chief says airstrikes in Lebanon have violated humanitarian law
Israeli strikes batter Beirut in heaviest bombardment so far, witnesses say
Qlayaa, Rmeish, and Marjayoun Inhabitants: Die with Dignity Rather than Live in the Street
Hezbollah members were likely holding pagers with both hands when they exploded due to a dark feature: report
Emirates airline bans pagers and walkie-talkies after attacks on Hezbollah devices
Hezbollah rockets hit Israel's Haifa, 10 injured
Israeli attacks leave no beds for intensive care, dialysis patients in Lebanon

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on October 06-07/2024
Syria State Media Says Air Defense Intercepted ‘Hostile Targets’
Israel army says more troops deployed near Gaza ahead of Oct. 7 anniversary
Now is the time': Former defense minister Gantz pushes for strike on Iran
US to give Israel 'compensation' if it hits acceptable targets in Iran - report
Sinwar silent with mediators, believed to have surrounded himself with hostages - Qatari officials
Netanyahu tells Macron that putting limits on Israel will strengthen Iran
Israeli forces return to Jabaliya and issue new evacuation orders
Israel says France's call for halting sales of arms used in Gaza is a 'disgrace'
Imam: Relations between UK’s Jewish and Muslim communities ‘fragile’
Pope Francis names Archbishop of Toronto among 21 new cardinals

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on October 06-07/2024
We Will Not Let Our Country and Continent Be Destroyed/Geert Wilders/Gatestone Institute./October 6, 2024
Israel’s moral dilemma and the tragedy of war/Andrew Latham, opinion contributor/The Hill/October 6, 2024
Former Defense chief: Israeli attack on Iran nuclear facilities would be ‘significant strike’/Filip Timotija/The Hill/October 06/2024
A year to forget that cannot be forgotten/Yossi Mekelberg/Arab News/October 07, 2024
Humiliated ayatollahs are already plotting the next war/Baria Alamuddin/Arab News/October 07, 2024
The four observations that mark a year since Oct. 7/Faisal J. Abbas/Arab News/October 07, 2024

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on October 06-07/2024
Elias Bejjani/Text & Video: The End of Iran’s Reign of Terror and Hezbollah's Demise
Elias Bejjani/October 06/2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2024/10/135321/
I strongly recommend watching the five enclosed interviews posted on my website, https://eliasbejjaninews.com/. These interviews are crucial as they reveal the trajectory of the region, culminating in the conclusion that the mission of the criminal, repressive Iranian Mullah regime is nearing its end. This regime, having served its role as the Western alliance’s boogeyman, has frightened the Sunni Arab world into accepting Israel. Every Arab nation has now recognized Israel, viewing Iran as the true existential threat. Even Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince has publicly acknowledged that Israel could be a potential ally.
The anticipated event, either today or tomorrow, will be a massive Israeli military strike against Iran, backed by international Western (NATO) forces and with Arab blessings under the table. This attack will mark the first anniversary of Hamas's barbaric jihadist invasion on October 7 last year, restoring Israel’s deterrence and balance of power, as Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu promised. Netanyahu declared just yesterday that Israel will strike Iran, shift the regional balance, and obliterate Hezbollah by force, stripping it of its weapons once and for all.
Lebanon’s Political Puppetry
Anyone counting on Nabih Berri, the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, to lead the efforts aiming to restore Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence is as deluded as someone hoping a wolf will guard sheep. Berri is nothing more than a polished puppet of Hezbollah—a terrorist entity at its core and a servant of Iran, disguised with a necktie to further deceive the people. Berri, along with his Amal Movement and all other Shiite authorities, was militarily defeated and eliminated during the "Iqlim al-Tuffah" battle (March 1988) under Iranian orders, with Syrian backing and Israeli assistance.
As for Najib Mikati, Lebanon's current PM, he’s nothing but a hypocritical merchant whose shameful history and betrayal exposes his consistent service to the Assad and Mullah regimes at Lebanon’s expense.
Regarding our Christian Maronite leaders in particular, and Christians in general, it’s tragic that they have become nothing more than spineless, politically and nationally emasculated traders, much like the traitorous disciple who sold Christ to be crucified for 30 pieces of silver. These are the worst leaders we’ve seen in 1,400 years of our history, with no exceptions, whether civilians or clergy. Among the worst is Samir Geagea, whose  shameful silence throughout the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah war has been deafening, even as he prevents his supporters from expressing their views and concerns. Sadly, his supporters are stupidly accepting the role of sheep.
In regards to former President Michel Aoun and his corrupt son-in-law, Gebran Bassil, they are both a disgrace, and their pitiful status reflects that of the rest of the politicians and the heads of the commercial, narcissistic political parties. Sadly, our beloved Lebanon today is devoid of any national leadership, both religious and political, which is unsurprising given that the Palestinian, Syrian, and Iranian occupations since the 1970s have neutered the political and religious class and molded them to serve their interests.
The Path to Lebanon's Liberation
The salvation of Lebanon will not come from the hands of the current leaders, parties, or politicians who handed it over to foreign occupations, betrayed its people, conspired against it, robbed its bank deposits, displaced and humiliated its citizens, and reduced themselves to tools and empty puppets.
Lebanon’s solution lies in placing it under the guardianship of the United Nations Security Council, enforcing international resolutions—namely the Armistice Agreement, Resolution 1559, 1701, and 1680—by force under Chapter VII, with the aim of rehabilitating the Lebanese people to govern themselves.
In the same context, Former Minister Youssef Salameh’s predictions in an interview conducted with him yesterday are highly plausible in light of the ongoing war between Israel, Iran, Hezbollah, and their other terrorist proxies: He loudly with confidence and proves said:
The world western powers dealt with Hassan Nasrallah the same way they did with Bashir Gemayel, Rafic Hariri, and Kamal Jumblatt—the four were assassinated after their roles were finished. This historical reality supports the reasoning behind Nasrallah’s eventual elimination.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard was created by NATO to divide Sunnis and Shiites, forcing the Sunnis to recognize Israel, which is precisely what happened. Hezbollah’s role has ended, and Nasrallah has been eliminated as a result.
Iran is not a strong state and does not wield significant influence on the international stage, not even in determining Nasrallah’s fate. Its regime’s collapse is inevitable now that its purpose has been exhausted.
Militarily unbalanced wars, such as the one Hezbollah and Hamas are waging against Israel, are suicidal endeavors, which is the current reality.
What protects Lebanon from Israel is the international system, not Hezbollah’s so-called resistance lie and heresy.
Lebanon must move toward peace with Israel, just like every other Arab nation.
There will be no compromise on Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence. The concept of "resistance" is obsolete, and no state can exist within the shadow of a militia.
Walid Jumblatt’s daily bizarre stances are circumstantial, and his support for Hezbollah does not reflect the Druze community’s stance, which opposes Hezbollah.
Hassan Nasrallah has always been alienated from Lebanon’s national entity, calling for an Islamic state and proudly declaring himself a soldier of Iran’s Supreme Leader, loyal to the Iranian regime.
The assassination of Nasrallah signifies the end of a regional era—the Mullah regime and its tentacles, including Hezbollah.
The era of Shiites political dominance in Lebanon is over, and Lebanon is on the path to sovereignty, freedom, and independence.

Elias Bejjani/A thousand salutes to journalist Mariam Majdouline and every free, sovereign Lebanese who embodies her courage. We stand firmly by her side against a corrupt and compromised judiciary.
Elias Bejjani/October 06, 2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2024/10/135331/
A thousand salutes to the patriotic journalist Mariam Majdouline for her brave, unwavering stance against Hezbollah—Iran’s notorious armed proxy in Lebanon. Eternal damnation upon those who have filed or might file complaints against her, and to every submissive, corrupt judicial authority that has issued or may issue an arrest warrant in her name.
Cursed be the judiciary that persecutes the free and sovereign voices of Lebanon.
With the distinguished activist Elie Khoury, we declare: Mariam Majdouline’s shoes hold more truth and honor than the highest-ranking mustache in the disgraceful, suicidal regime of occupied Lebanon.
*The author, Elias Bejjani, is a Lebanese expatriate activist
Author’s Email: Phoenicia@hotmail.com

Esmail Qaani missing: Did Israel kill Soleimani's successor in Beirut?
Jerusalem Post/October 06/2024
Qaani may have been wounded in the strike that targeted Hassan Nasrallah's presumed successor, according to N12. Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force Brigadier-General Esmail Qaani's whereabouts are not currently known, according to a New York Times report, citing Iranian media. According to the Israeli N12 on Saturday, the Iranian brigadier-general may have been wounded in the Israeli strike that targeted Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah's presumed successor, Hashem Safieddine, in southern Beirut. The NYT report cited local media as saying that officials in Iran had no clear answers yet regarding what may have occurred to the Quds Force chief. Two days after Israel eliminated Nasrallah, Qaani was seen in Hezbollah's Tehran offices. However, he was not present at the Friday commemoration of Hezbollah's chief led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.  However, according to the NYT report, citing three Iranian sources, Qaani had traveled to Beirut to convene with Hezbollah officials amid the Israeli strikes on the terror organization. An IRGC member said, according to the NYT report, that Iranian officials' muteness on the subject was spreading panic among the IRGC members. Later on Sunday, Army Radio reported, citing local Iranian reports, that Qaani would conduct an interview later in the day. Two Iranian security officials confirmed to Rueters on Sunday that Qaani hasn't been heard from since last week. One of the officials said Qaani was in Beirut's southern suburbs, known as the Dahiyeh, during a strike on Thursday that was reported to have targeted senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine but the official said he was not meeting Safieddine. The official said Iran and Hezbollah had not been able to contact Qaani since then.  Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Brigadier General Abbas Nilforoushan was killed with Nasrallah in his bunker when it was hit on Sept. 27 by Israeli bombs. Qaani succeeded Qasem Soleimani after the latter was assassinated by the United States in 2020.

Macron responds to Netanyahu's accusations
Associated Press/October 06/2024
French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday reiterated his call for a partial arms embargo on Israel — a demand that prompted an angry response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a written statement, Macron’s office said he favors a halt to arms exports for use in Gaza because a cease-fire is needed “to stop the mounting violence, free the hostages, protect civilians and clear the way to the political solutions needed for the security of Israel and the whole Middle East.” Macron's earlier similar remarks led Netanyahu to release a video statement in which he called out the French president by name and referred to such calls as a “disgrace.”Macron's office insisted that “France is Israel’s unfailing friend” and called Netanyahu's remarks “excessive and irrelevant to the friendship between France and Israel.”

23 killed in Israeli strikes across Lebanon on Saturday
Agence France Presse/October 06/2024
Israeli strikes killed 23 people across Lebanon on Saturday, the health ministry has said. "Israeli strikes yesterday on towns and villages of southern Lebanon" and other parts of the country "killed 23 people and wounded 93 others," it said on Sunday, without including casualties in more recent bombardment on Beirut's southern suburbs after midnight.

Beirut's Southern Suburbs: Over 25 Raids in One Night
This is Beirut/October 6, 2024
The southern suburbs of Beirut endured an intense barrage of Israeli airstrikes overnight, with more than 30 raids targeting the area. The bombardment began shortly after nearly five evacuation notices were issued by the Israeli army for several locations, including Bourj al-Barajneh and Haret Hreik. Airstrikes specifically targeted Bourj al-Barajneh, Ghobeiry and Choueifat. In one instance, near Bourj al-Barajneh, a massive fireball shot into the sky after a strike hit a gas station on the old airport road. Another strike reportedly targeted an al-Manar television channel studio in Haret Hreik, near Hay el-Amerkan. However, the building had been evacuated before the attack. In Ghobeiry, a particularly violent raid reverberated through the capital and distant areas, with some residents claiming the sound was heard tens of kilometers away. A column of fire rose above the targeted infrastructure, scattering unidentified shrapnel. Initial reports indicated that a medical supplies warehouse had been hit, igniting a fire due to oxygen canisters stored inside. However, Khaled Kadouha, owner of Kadouha Oxygen, denied that his company had been struck. Several media outlets also reported that the shrapnel originated from an attack on a weapons warehouse in Ghobeiry. As a result, residents in surrounding areas, particularly Sabra and Ard Jaloul, evacuated as the bombardment continued, fearing that additional shrapnel would fall. Despite the destruction, air traffic at Rafic Hariri International Airport persisted. It was confirmed that Middle East Airlines flights continued to land, making it the only airline still operating in Beirut during the strikes.

Intense Israeli Shelling and Airstrikes Target Southern Lebanon and Beirut Suburbs
This is Beirut/October 6, 2024
Intense Israeli shelling and airstrikes continued on Sunday, particularly on the southern suburbs of Beirut and various towns in southern Lebanon, leading to casualties and widespread destruction. An Israeli drone struck a motorcycle in Jdeidet Marjayoun, southern Lebanon, killing the driver instantly and injuring a lady who was passing by. As the second individual on the motorcycle attempted to flee into a nearby building, local youth gathered to assist the injured. However, a subsequent drone strike resulted in the death of the motorcyclist and injuries to an Internal Security Forces officer and another civilian, both of whom were transferred to a hospital in Nabatiyeh. A third victim from the town of Debbin, whose identity remains unknown, was also reported dead. Israeli artillery shelled several towns in southern Lebanon, including Mays al-Jabal, Braashit, Aitaroun, Beit Yahoun, Adchit, Shaqra, Arnoun, Majdal Selm, and Qabrikha.
The Israelis demolished a mosque in the town of Yaroun. A video circulated showing the mosque's complete destruction. Israeli forces have reportedly entered the outskirts of the town but have not advanced further. Airstrikes targeted the area between Debbin and Marjayoun, leading to injuries.
Wreckage from an Israeli drone was discovered between the outskirts of Yanta and Madoukha in the Rashaya District, prompting army intelligence and security agencies to cordon off the area for investigation. In the Marjayoun district, artillery shelling persisted in Kfar Kila and the outskirts of Bourj al-Molouk, while reconnaissance drones surveyed the region.
Attacks on the Beqaa
Intensive drone activity was reported over the villages of Western Beqaa. Israeli airstrikes targeted Doures, Ali al-Nahri, and Qaliyya in central Beqaa, as well as a building near the Maronite National School at the entrance of Baalbeck. Airstrikes also occurred just 600 meters from the Baalbeck citadel.
Hezbollah Response In response to the Israeli assaults, Hezbollah announced that its fighters targeted an Israeli Army unit attempting to infiltrate Khallat Shaib in Blida, causing injuries and forcing a retreat. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for an aerial attack on the 7200 maintenance and repair base south of Haifa, stating it hit its targets accurately. Additionally, they targeted Israeli forces evacuating wounded soldiers in the Menara settlement and bombed Israeli Army gatherings in Margalit, Khilat Shaib, and Baram. The Israeli military reported detecting approximately 40 rockets launched from Lebanon toward northern Israel since midnight, triggering air raid sirens in border areas such as Metula, Caesarea, Hadera, and Haifa. Israeli radio reported shrapnel falling in five locations due to the interception of two ballistic missiles, while rocket fire was also directed at Katzrin in the Golan Heights.

Israel pounds Dahieh in major overnight airstrikes
Agence France Presse/October 06/2024
A fireball lit up the sky and smoke billowed over Beirut on Sunday as Israel unleashed intense strikes targeting the capital's southern suburbs, almost a year since the Hamas attack that sparked war in Gaza. In Gaza, Israel's military said it encircled the Jabaliya area of northern Gaza after indications Hamas was rebuilding despite nearly a year of devastating air strikes and fighting. As another strike hit Beirut's southern suburbs, caretake Prime Minister Najib Mikati appealed to the international community to put pressure on Israel for a ceasefire. Israel is on high alert ahead of Monday's anniversary of Hamas' unprecedented October 7 attack which triggered the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Israel has now turned its focus northwards to Hezbollah, Hamas' Iran-backed ally in Lebanon, and has vowed to avenge an Iranian missile attack. Lebanon's official National News Agency said Hezbollah's south Beirut stronghold was hit by more than 30 strikes, with a petrol station and a medical supplies warehouse also hit. "The strikes were like an earthquake," said shopkeeper Mehdi Zeiter, 60. Israel's military said it struck weapons storage facilities and infrastructure while taking measures "to mitigate the risk of harming civilians."
AFPTV footage showed a massive fireball over a residential area, followed by a loud bang and secondary explosions. Smoke still billowed from the site after dawn. In the Sabra area, near the southern suburbs, dozens of people, some carrying bags on foot and others on motorbikes, fled one of the most intense bombardments of the Israel-Hezbollah war. Hezbollah said it fired rockets at Israeli forces during a casualty evacuation, used artillery at another site in the south and launched assault drones on an Israeli military base. Lebanon's education minister said the start of the new school year was being postponed until November 4 because of "security risks."
'Ongoing threat' -
Ahead of Monday's grim anniversary, Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told a televised briefing: "We are prepared with increased forces in anticipation for this day," when there could be "attacks on the home front."On Sunday the military said it had "encircled" the Jabaliya area of northern Gaza after intelligence detected "efforts by Hamas to rebuild its operational capabilities". The army said it had killed about 440 Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon "from the ground and from the air" since Monday, when troops began "targeted" ground operations. Israel says it aims to allow tens of thousands of Israelis displaced by almost a year of Hezbollah rocket fire into northern Israel to return home. Israeli President Isaac Herzog called Iran an "ongoing threat" after Tehran, which backs armed groups across the Middle East, launched around 200 missiles at Israel Tuesday in revenge for Israeli killings of militant leaders including Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. Iran's attack killed a Palestinian in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and damaged an Israeli air base, according to satellite images. It came the same day Israeli ground forces began raids into Lebanon after days of intense strikes on Hezbollah strongholds.
'Resistance won't back down' -
One Israeli military official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to discuss the issue publicly, said the army "is preparing a response" to Iran's attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu noted Iran had twice launched "hundreds of missiles" at Israel since April. "Israel has the duty and the right to defend itself and to respond to these attacks and that is what we will do," he said in a statement. Netanyahu's critics accuse him of obstructing efforts to reach a Gaza ceasefire and deal to free hostages still held by Hamas. A senior Hezbollah source said Saturday the group had lost contact with Hashem Safieddine, widely tipped as its next leader, after air strikes in Beirut's southern suburbs. The group has yet to name a new chief after Israel assassinated Nasrallah late last month in a massive strike in Dahieh. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Friday that "the resistance in the region will not back down".Across Lebanon, strikes against Hezbollah have killed more than 1,110 people since September 23, according to a tally based on official figures.
'Never-ending nightmare' -
U.N.'s refugee agency head Filippo Grandi said Lebanon "faces a terrible crisis" and warned "hundreds of thousands of people are left destitute or displaced by Israeli air strikes.".l Israeli bombardment has put at least four hospitals in Lebanon out of service, the facilities said.
The U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon said it rejected a request by Israel's military to "relocate some of our positions" in south Lebanon. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in Damascus Saturday after visiting Beirut, renewed his call for ceasefires in both Gaza and Lebanon, and threatened Israel with an "even stronger" reaction to any attack on Iran. U.S., Qatari and Egyptian mediators tried unsuccessfully for months to reach a Gaza truce and secure the release of 97 hostages still held there. Gaza's civil defence agency said Sunday an Israeli strike on a mosque-turned-shelter in central Deir al-Balah killed 26 people. Israel said it had targeted Hamas militants. Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 41,870 people in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to figures provided by the Hamas-run territory's health ministry and described as reliable by the U.N. Ahead of the October 7 anniversary, thousands joined pro-Palestinian rallies in London, Paris, Cape Town and other cities. Israel's President Herzog said his country's October 7 "wounds still cannot fully heal."

Hochstein denies 'green light' to Israel, stresses need for diplomacy
Naharnet/October 06/2024 
U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein has denied that Washington has given a “green light” to Israel regarding its ongoing attack on Lebanon. “Lots of wrong, irresponsible reporting these last few days. (The) US did not ‘green light’ military operations in Lebanon,” Hochstein said in a post on the X platform.“Ultimately, only a diplomatic resolution will allow residents to return home. We continue to work w(ith) (the) governments of Israel & Lebanon on (the) best path to restore calm,” Hochstein added.

UN refugee chief says airstrikes in Lebanon have violated humanitarian law
Timour Azhari/BEIRUT (Reuters)/October 06/2024
The United Nations' refugee chief Filippo Grandi said on Sunday that airstrikes in Lebanon had violated international humanitarian law by hitting civilian infrastructure and killing civilians, in reference to Israel's bombardment of the country. "Unfortunately, many instances of violations of international humanitarian law in the way the airstrikes are conducted that have destroyed or damaged civilian infrastructure, have killed civilians, have impacted humanitarian operations," he told media in Beirut. Grandi was in Lebanon as it struggles to cope with the displacement of more than 1.2 million people as a result of an expanded Israeli air and ground operation that it says is targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah. Fighting had previously been mostly limited to the Israel-Lebanon border area, in parallel to Israel's war in Gaza against Palestinian group Hamas. Grandi said all parties to the conflict and those with influence on them should "stop this carnage that is happening both in Gaza and in Lebanon today". More than 2,000 people have been killed and nearly 10,000 wounded in Lebanon in nearly a year of fighting, most in the past two weeks, the Lebanese health ministry says. Israel says around 50 civilians and soldiers have been killed. Israel says it targets military capabilities and takes steps to mitigate the risk of harm to civilians, while Lebanese authorities say civilians have been targeted. Israel accuses both Hezbollah and Hamas of hiding among civilians, which they deny. Grandi said the World Health Organization briefed him "about egregious violations of IHL in respect of health facilities in particular that have been impacted in various locations of Lebanon", using an acronym for international humanitarian law. Attacks on civilian homes may also be violations, though the matter requires further assessment, he said. The fighting has led some 220,000 people to cross the Lebanese border with Syria, 70% of whom are Syrians and 30% Lebanese, Grandi said, saying these were conservative estimates. Israel's bombardment of the main border crossing with Syria at Masnaa on Friday was "a huge obstacle", to those flows of people continuing, he said. Many of the Syrians leaving Lebanon had sought refuge and fled war and a security crackdown after the onset of the Syrian civil war in 2011. Now was an opportunity for the Syrian government to show that returnees' "safety and ability to go back to their homes or wherever they need to go is respected", Grandi said.

Israeli strikes batter Beirut in heaviest bombardment so far, witnesses say
Maya Gebeily, Timour Azhari and Alexander Cornwell/October 6, 2024
-Israeli air attacks battered Beirut's southern suburbs overnight and early on Sunday in the most intense bombardment of the Lebanese capital since Israel sharply escalated its campaign against Iran-backed group Hezbollah last month. During the night, the blasts sent booms across Beirut and sparked flashes of red and white for nearly 30 minutes visible from several kilometres away. It was the single biggest attack of Israel's assault on Beirut so far, witnesses and military analysts on local TV channels said. On Sunday a grey haze hung over the city and rubble was strewn across streets in the southern suburbs, while smoke columns rose over the area. "Last night was the most violence of all the previous nights. Buildings were shaking around us and at first I thought it was an earthquake. There were dozens of strikes - we couldn't count them all - and the sounds were deafening," said Hanan Abdullah, a resident of the Burj al-Barajneh area in Beirut's southern suburbs. Videos posted on social media, which Reuters could not immediately verify, showed fresh damage to the highway that runs from Beirut airport through its southern suburbs into downtown. Israel said its air force had "conducted a series of targeted strikes on a number of weapons storage facilities and terrorist infrastructure sites belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization in the area of Beirut". Lebanese authorities did not immediately say what the missiles had hit or what damage they caused. This weekend's intense bombardment came just ahead of the anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas on southern Israel in which some 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli figures. The target of Israel's airstrikes across Lebanon and its ground invasion in the south of the country is the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, Iran's chief ally in the region. More than 2,000 people have been killed in nearly a year of fighting, most of them in the past two weeks, according to the Lebanese health ministry. The ministry said on Sunday 23 people had been killed on Saturday. For days Israel has bombed the Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh - considered a stronghold for Hezbollah but also home to thousands of ordinary Lebanese, Palestinian and Syrian refugees - killing its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Sept. 27. A Lebanese security source said on Saturday that Hashem Safieddine, Nasrallah's potential successor, had been out of contact since Friday, after an Israeli airstrike on Thursday near the city's international airport that was reported to have targeted him. Israel continues to bomb the area of the strike, preventing rescue workers from reaching it, Lebanese security sources said. Hezbollah has not commented on Safieddine.
His loss would be another blow to the group and its patron Iran. Israeli strikes across the region in the past year, sharply accelerated in recent weeks, have devastated Hezbollah's leadership.
GAZA WAR
Israel's war in Gaza, launched after the Oct. 7 attacks and aimed at eliminating Hamas, another Iran-backed group, has killed nearly 42,000 people, Palestinian authorities say. The coastal enclave lies in ruins. At least 26 people were killed and 93 others wounded when Israeli airstrikes hit a mosque and a school sheltering displaced people in the Gaza Strip early on Sunday, the Hamas-run Gaza government media office said. The Israeli military said it had conducted "precise strikes on Hamas terrorists". Hezbollah began firing rockets at Israel a day after the Oct. 7 attacks and after Israel had begun bombing Gaza, saying it was acting in solidarity with the Palestinian group. Cross-border fire continued between Israel and Hezbollah for months, but were mostly limited to the Israel-Lebanon border area before the recent upsurge. Israel says it stepped up its assault on Hezbollah last month to enable the safe return of tens of thousands of citizens to homes in northern Israel, bombarded by the group since last Oct. 8.Israeli authorities said on Saturday that nine Israeli soldiers had been killed in southern Lebanon so far. In northern Israel, air raid sirens sounded on Sunday and the Israeli military said it had intercepted rockets fired from Lebanese territory. Iran has signalled it does not want a direct war with Israel but has launched responses on occasion to Israeli attacks. It fired a barrage of ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday that did little damage. Israel has been weighing options for its response.

Qlayaa, Rmeish, and Marjayoun Inhabitants: Die with Dignity Rather than Live in the Street
This is Beirut/October 6, 2024 
Despite feelings of abandonment, fear, and concern, the residents of three southern Lebanon border villages — Qlayaa, Rmeish, and Marjayoun — are determined not to leave. They cling to the hope that the war raging around them will not reach their communities, where Hezbollah has no active presence. The exodus of residents from southern Lebanon to safer areas has intensified since the Israeli Army began instructing them to "leave their homes and move north of the Litani due to imminent strikes on Hezbollah targets." However, some villages, particularly Christian ones, stand out. Many residents of Qlayaa, Rmeish, and Marjayoun are determined to stay.
"Staying here in Qlayaa reflects our commitment to the values of peace and dignity. Leaving our land and our village would mean abandoning everything we hold dear," firmly states Father Pierre al-Rai. The residents of these three villages, located just a few kilometers from the Blue Line, were unpleasantly surprised to find on October 4 that their villages were listed among 27 localities in southern Lebanon that were to be evacuated immediately at the order of the Israeli Army. The evening before, Tel Aviv had announced the start of "limited, localized, and targeted" ground operations, supported by air and artillery strikes, against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.
For a year, while Hezbollah and Israel exchanged relentless artillery fire, these three villages largely remained untouched by the crossfire. Hezbollah has no presence in Rmeish and Qlayaa, and an extremely minimal presence in Marjayoun.
"We have nothing to do with the ongoing fighting. We have no political party here, no Hezbollah, nothing," emphasizes Father al-Rai.
In his Sunday sermons at St. George's Church, he strives to reassure those who have stayed behind, even as explosions rumble in the distance. "In these times of uncertainty and tension, we face threats and challenges, but we remain one family. Despite the fears and doubts that surround us, we must remember why we are here. Our land is a testament to the struggles of our ancestors, the foundation of our dreams, and the refuge of our hearts," he asserts.
The village quickly organized to navigate this crisis, as many fear it may persist. Young people help the elderly, ensuring all their needs are met; families share food and essential supplies, thanks to the women; and the men protect the village.
In their own way, the residents of Qlayaa, Rmeish, and those who have chosen to stay a bit further away in Marjayoun are standing firm. It is this spirit that gives them the strength they need. "We have heard so many bombs over the past year that even a child can make the difference between sounds," sighs a 78-year-old retiree in Qlayaa.
As he speaks, a dull explosion echoes. He raises his finger to the sky: "That's what I’m talking about," he said, as he named the missile that has just fallen somewhere in the distance. A louder blast follows, and a column of smoke rises above a mountain. He gives a faint smile: "It’s like this all the time now." "We feel isolated, abandoned. No one thinks about us. We literally live under the missiles." Despite the tension, Chadia, a grocery store owner in Qlayaa, speaks softly. The nights, in particular, are especially challenging. For hours on end, the bombings shake the village in the darkness of the night. "Courage fades quickly when the missiles fall," she confides. The days are not easier, either. The fear of what the future holds is ever-present. "Those who chose to stay either cannot afford to leave their homes or do not want to, fearing they might lose their land," Chadia explains.
A Vulnerable Local Population
In Marjayoun, the streets are almost empty. Many residents have decided to leave, fearing an escalation of the conflict. "The feeling of isolation is growing," comments Paul, angry over the closure of the road connecting Marjayoun to Hasbaya, which was bombed by the Israeli Army at Kawkaba. "People just want access to hospitals, pharmacies, and a way to support themselves," he says. However, some families opted not to go north of the Litani River and instead settled in nearby areas that have been spared from the bombings due to the absence of Hezbollah. One such area is Hasbaya, the capital of the caza of the same name, which hosts a large number of displaced people from the region. This proximity allows the residents of Marjayoun who have settled there to make quick visits to their village to check on their homes and ensure that their neighbors who have decided to stay are not short of essentials. They often go in the morning when the situation is relatively calm. They make sure to bring them food. "It's always helpful," confides the father of a family living in Hasbaya.
In this Christian locality, nearly 2,000 residents chose to stay. "We prefer to die here with dignity rather than try to survive on the streets," states Dany. Bassam, a restaurant owner in Marjayoun, echoes his sentiment: "Leaving would be heartbreaking. And where would we go? Are we supposed to take refuge under the stairs in some corner of Beirut? This is our home." "This land is my life. My ancestors cultivated olives and figs here and toiled in the fields their entire lives. I know that staying is dangerous, but I prefer to live here, close to my family and friends," insists Charbel.
The Threats of Health, Economic, and Food Crises
One of the major challenges facing the residents of the Marjayoun region is related to health, due to the closure of pharmacies and the only governmental hospital in the caza. This medical facility, once vital for the community, has been forced to shut its doors because of security issues and, more importantly, limited resources and a lack of materials and equipment.
The hospital’s shutdown has severely impacted access to healthcare, as residents had hoped that the authorities, aware of the seriousness of the situation, would provide support to ensure it could continue offering at least basic medical services. “I’m not exaggerating when I say we’re lacking everything. We had to evacuate pregnant women, dialysis patients, and cancer patients because we lack the necessary equipment and supplies for their treatments,” states Dr. Ahmad Atwi, a physician at the Marjayoun hospital.
Out of the four pharmacies in this border village, three have shut down. The only one still operating is run by Khaled, who has no intention of leaving. “Our needs are countless and the state is completely absent,” he laments.
At his pharmacy, some medications, especially those for chronic illnesses, are also beginning to run low. Until recently, two pharmacies were doing their utmost to meet the needs of the residents from their existing stock. However, due to the escalating Israeli evacuation orders, Georgina, the pharmacist, became concerned for her family’s safety and opted for leaving to protect her three daughters. Moreover, the shutdown of the hospital and pharmacies, along with the disruption of the road connecting Hasbaya to Marjayoun — bombed three times by the Israeli Army — has intensified the feelings of concern and disarray among a population that has been left to fend for itself for a year. The lack of fuel exacerbates the challenges faced by residents. The shortage of diesel and gasoline restricts movement and heightens the sense of isolation, particularly since internet access has been severely affected by the bombings. The telecommunications infrastructure has sustained significant damage, resulting in unstable and sometimes nonexistent internet connectivity. However, the most pressing concern is the emerging threat of food insecurity, which is becoming evident due to movement restrictions that complicate supply chains.
Recently, three trucks carrying aid, including essential goods, set off for Rmeish. This assistance follows repeated appeals from residents to the authorities. The Ministry of Social Affairs coordinated efforts with a coalition of local and international organizations, the Lebanese Army, and UNIFIL. “Every gesture of help, no matter how small, makes us feel that we are not alone,” notes Victoria. The village priest reassured the residents that they were safe, encouraging them to stay, just as he has, a villager called Amer said, adding, “We are peaceful people who wish to stay neutral.” In the coming days, Qlayaa and Marjayoun are set to receive similar assistance, providing the residents with a sense of support and reminding them that they are not alone.

Hezbollah members were likely holding pagers with both hands when they exploded due to a dark feature: report
Rebecca Rommen/Business Insider/October 6, 2024
Thousands of electronic devices exploded across Lebanon last month, leaving dozens dead and thousands injured. The attacks targeted pagers and walkie-talkies used by the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. A new report by The Washington Post now says the pagers were fitted with a dark feature that made them even more deadly than previously thought — a two-step de-encryption procedure that meant most users would be holding the device with both hands when it went off. While Israel has not confirmed involvement in the attack, it is widely believed to have been carried out by its Mossad intelligence service. According to the Post, Mossad was able to trigger the explosions remotely, but it had also added a special procedure for users to read encrypted messages that could also detonate the devices.
"You had to push two buttons to read the message," an unnamed official told the outlet, adding that users would therefore likely "wound both their hands" and "would be incapable to fight."
Citing Israeli, US, and Middle Eastern officials, the Post reported that up to 3,000 members of Hezbollah were injured or killed by the explosions. Hezbollah had seemingly switched from using cellphones to more low-tech pagers just months before the detonations. Sources familiar with Hezbollah told Reuters in July that the group had banned cellphones from the battlefield to try to stay ahead of Israeli intelligence capabilities. Former spies previously told Business Insider that the operation suggested a calculated, textbookly executed covert operation. "We are looking at something that has been a very carefully, very thoroughly, well-calculated, meticulously tailored process," Avi Melamed, a former Israeli intelligence official, said. Emirates airline has since banned passengers from carrying pagers and walkie-talkies on flights. In a statement, the carrier said: "All Passengers travelling on flights to, from or via Dubai are prohibited from transporting pagers and walkie talkies in checked or cabin baggage."The airline also said it had canceled flights to and from Beirut until after October 15. Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging strikes since last October, after Hamas' October 7 attacks on the Jewish state. Israel has ramped up attacks on senior Hezbollah figures in recent weeks. Last week, the IDF announced it had killed the group's leader of 32 years, Hassan Nasrallah, in an airstrike on Beirut. Nasrallah's death prompted a major retaliatory missile strike from Iran and has spread fears of a wider conflict in the region.

Emirates airline bans pagers and walkie-talkies after attacks on Hezbollah devices
Rebecca Rommen/Business Insider/October 6, 2024
Emirates has banned pagers and walkie-talkies after attacks targeting devices used by Hezbollah in Lebanon last month. The airline banned the devices "on flights to, from or via Dubai," it said in a statement. It has also canceled flights to and from Beirut until after October 15. Emirates airline has banned passengers from carrying pagers and walkie-talkies, it has said. A statement posted on the carrier's website says: "All Passengers travelling on flights to, from or via Dubai are prohibited from transporting pagers and walkie talkies in checked or cabin baggage." "Such items found in passengers' hand luggage or checked baggage will be confiscated by Dubai Police," it adds. It comes after a series of attacks that targeted similar devices used by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Thousands of electronic devices fitted with explosives detonated across Lebanon last month, killing dozens of people and leaving thousands injured. Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for the attacks, but it is widely believed to have been the work of Mossad, the Israeli intelligence service. Emirates has also suspended flights to and from Beirut until after October 15. Flights from Iraq and Iran are also canceled until after October 7. The airline's services to Jordan are set to resume on Sunday. Israel has been targeting senior Hezbollah figures in recent weeks. Hassan Nasrallah, the group's leader since 1992, was killed in an Israeli airstrike last week. Iran launched a major missile strike on Israel in retaliation for the killing, in what war analysts say was a likely attempt to overwhelm Israel's air defenses. The potential successor to Nasrallah, Hashem Safieddine, has been out of contact since further Israeli strikes on Beirut on Friday, AFP reported on Saturday, citing an unnamed senior Hezbollah source. "We don't know if he was at the targeted site, or who may have been there with him," the source said.

Hezbollah rockets hit Israel's Haifa, 10 injured
Reuters/October 6, 2024
Hezbollah rockets hit Haifa, Israel's third-largest city, Israeli police said early on Monday, and Israeli media reported 10 people were injured in the country's north. Hezbollah said it targeted a military base south of Haifa with a salvo of "Fadi 1" missiles. Media reports said two rockets hit Haifa. Police said that some buildings and properties were damaged, and that there were several reports of minor injuries and people were taken to a nearby hospital. Israel's military said fighter jets hit targets belonging to Hezbollah's Intelligence Headquarters in Beirut, including intelligence-gathering means, command centers, and additional infrastructure sites.Over the past few hours, the airstrikes struck Hezbollah weapons storage facilities in the area of Beirut, the military said, noting that secondary explosions were identified following the strikes, indicating the presence of weaponry. Airstrikes also struck Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa area, including weapons storage facilities, infrastructure sites, a command center, and a launcher, the military said. It blamed Hezbollah for deliberately embedding its command centers and weaponry beneath residential buildings in the heart of the city of Beirut and endangering the civilian population.

Israeli attacks leave no beds for intensive care, dialysis patients in Lebanon
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/October 06, 2024
Heavy strikes shake southern Beirut
Airstrikes on edge of Baalbek Citadel force refugees from Palestinian camps out onto the streets
BEIRUT: Heavy Israeli airstrikes continued in Lebanon on Sunday, hitting Beirut and the Bekaa Valley. The Ministry of Health recorded at least 23 deaths along with 93 injuries in a single day of airstrikes. The Order of Nurses in Lebanon issued an urgent appeal to the international community, the World Health Organization, and the International Council of Nurses “to intervene quickly and pressure Israel to shield the healthcare sector from the devastating war that has spared neither people nor buildings.” It warned that “the attacks have reached the healthcare sector, targeting hospitals that are beginning to go out of service, and targeting doctors, nurses, and paramedics in a blatant defiance of international laws and conventions.”It also cautioned that “the rapid developments, which have so far claimed many lives of healthcare workers and paramedics, have made it very difficult to remain in hot areas to rescue the wounded, especially as the lives of nurses are now at risk.”Suleiman Haroun, head of the private hospital owners’ syndicate in Lebanon, warned on Sunday that the hospital sector had “entered a danger zone.”He said the crisis was fuelled by Israeli shelling near hospitals in the south and Beirut’s southern suburbs amid the massive displacement of people. Haroun said: “The problem we currently face is providing beds for intensive care patients, ventilators, and beds for dialysis patients. “We have been affected by the massive displacement of residents from the South, Bekaa, and Beirut’s southern suburb.
“The capacities of hospitals in safer areas have become less than what is needed.
“Hospitals still operating in the areas under Israeli attacks are evacuating their patients to other hospitals to make room for more wounded.”Lebanon has 125 private hospitals providing medical services to many Lebanese citizens alongside government hospitals. Twenty of these hospitals are in the country’s south, a similar number in Bekaa, and five in Beirut’s southern suburbs. These hospitals have been subjected to Israeli shelling, reducing their operations to minimal levels, focusing only on emergency cases, Haroun said. For instance, 19 patients are on ventilators in Al-Rassoul Al-Aazam Hospital. Haroun said there was “no problem securing medical supplies or oxygen, as two factories are providing it, and they are outside the areas of the attacks.”A witness told Arab News that streets once known for their dense buildings had become empty squares filled with rubble.
“The destruction seems infinite, and it is impossible to recognize any landmarks,” said the resident.
“We find ourselves unable to sleep as we constantly check our phones, awaiting Israeli alerts directed at the residents of the area after midnight, instructing us to evacuate,” the witness said. “We place our hands over our hearts, fearing that our homes, which are all we have left, may be targeted. They claim to be concerned for our safety. “Yet they seek revenge against us and punish the wounded by obstructing ambulances from reaching the sites of the bombings ... this is the pinnacle of criminality,” the witness added. Emergency responders continue to face challenges in reaching targeted areas due to the surveillance of drones monitoring any movement in the vicinity, particularly in the southern suburbs. The South Lebanon Water Establishment mourned the death of three staff members —Ali Sobhi Mansour, Hussein Raslan from Taybeh, and Karim Darwish from Nabatieh — who all died while working. Israeli raids targeting the vicinity of the Palestinian refugee camps in Burj Al-Barajneh and Shatila facing the Ghobeiry area, meanwhile, led to the displacement of camp residents.
Refugees and a mix of non-Lebanese camp residents spread out on the roads in the heart of Beirut and around Horsh Beirut, where they sat in the open. Israeli airstrikes resumed on Sunday afternoon on the southern suburbs, targeting the areas of Burj Al-Barajneh and Chiyah-Ghobeiry, following a morning airstrike on an area between Al-Laylaki and Mrayjeh.
A residential building collapsed in Burj Al-Barajneh as a result of the strike’s damage.
The Israeli airstrikes targeted the vicinity of the historic Roman Baalbek Citadel, with plumes of smoke observed ascending from the area. The governor of Baalbek-Hermel, Bachir Khodr, verified that an assessment of the strike site revealed it was 600 meters from the citadel.
Airstrikes targeting a residential building in the town of Shmustar collapsed the structure, bringing it down on the heads of women, children and the elderly within.Israeli airstrikes also targeted Qasr Naba, Talia, Temnin El-Fawqa, the town of Douris east of Baalbek, and Ali El-Nahri in the central Bekaa region. Hezbollah reported ongoing military operations on the southern front against Israeli military installations, including “an aerial assault utilizing a squadron of suicide drones on the Samson base, which serves as a command supply center and regional supply unit, aiming at the positions of Israeli officers and soldiers.” The group also targeted “the movement of Israeli troops at the Biyad Blida site with artillery fire,” “the Hadab Yarin site using rocket munitions,” and “the Shlomi settlement.” Furthermore, when an Israeli unit attempted to infiltrate Khallet Shuaib in Blida, Hezbollah responded with artillery fire, compelling the unit to withdraw and resulting in casualties. Hezbollah said it launched a rocket barrage against Israel’s operation on Sunday to evacuate wounded and deceased soldiers from the Manara settlement.  The Israeli military announced on Sunday that around 40 rockets were fired from Lebanon targeting northern Israel. Sirens were sounded in the Metula and Kiryat Shmona areas. Some rockets were intercepted, while others landed in the vicinity. Israeli army radio announced the interception of two ballistic missiles that were launched from Lebanon. It said debris from one of the missiles fell in southern Haifa and appeared to be of the Fateh 110 type.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on October 06-07/2024
Syria State Media Says Air Defense Intercepted ‘Hostile Targets’
This is Beirut/October 6, 2024
Syrian air defense intercepted 'hostile targets' in the country's central region on Sunday evening, state media said, a phrase usually used to refer to Israeli strikes on the war-torn country. "Our air defense systems intercepted hostile targets in the airspace of the central region" of the country, the official SANA news agency said. "Israeli strikes" targeted a "weapons depot south of Homs and a rockets depot in the eastern Hama countryside," Human rights Syrian Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP, adding that the sites belonged to the Syrian Army. Earlier on Sunday, an Israeli strike in Syria targeted trucks transporting aid for Lebanese people, wounding three aid workers, the Observatory said. On Friday, Lebanon said an Israeli air strike on the Syrian border cut off the main international road linking the two countries. Since Syria's civil war erupted in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in the country, mainly targeting Army positions and Iran-backed fighters, including Hezbollah. Israeli authorities rarely comment on individual strikes in Syria, but have repeatedly said they will not allow arch-enemy Iran to expand its presence there. The strikes have increased in recent days, including on areas near the border with Lebanon. Tens of thousands of people have crossed into Syria over the past week, fleeing heavy Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon.With AFP

Israel army says more troops deployed near Gaza ahead of Oct. 7 anniversary
AFP/October 06, 2024
GAZA: The Israeli military said Sunday it deployed more troops to defend southern communities and areas bordering Gaza, ahead of the anniversary of the October 7 attack by Hamas. “The IDF’s (army) Gaza Division has been reinforced with several platoons, with forces stationed to defend both the communities and the border area,” the military said. “The soldiers are fully equipped to defend the region in coordination with local security forces,” it said in a statement. Inside Gaza, the military said three divisions were working to “dismantle terrorist infrastructure and degrade Hamas’s capabilities.”“The Southern Command remains at a heightened state of vigilance and readiness for the coming days,” commanding officer Major General Yaron Finkelman was quoted as saying. Earlier, the military said its forces had surrounded the area of Jabaliya in central Gaza where Hamas was trying to rebuild its operational capabilities.
“The troops of the 401st Brigade and the 460th Brigade have successfully encircled the area and are currently continuing to operate in the area,” the military said in a statement on Sunday. It cited intelligence suggesting the “presence of terrorists and terror infrastructure in the area of Jabaliya... as well as efforts by Hamas to rebuild its operational capabilities in the area.” “Prior to and during the operation, the IAF (air force) struck dozens of military targets in the area to assist IDF (army) ground troops,” the military said, adding that targets hit were weapons storage facilities, underground infrastructure sites and other militant sites. Hamas-run Gaza’s civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal said multiple strikes rocked Jabaliya overnight, with many casualties.
Residents said the Israeli military had targeted the area with heavy bombardments. “The shelling is random and violent in multiple directions and we do not know where the shelling is coming from and we do not know where to go,” Gaza resident Jameel Al Habibi told AFP.
Israeli forces have regularly targeted Jabaliya since the Gaza war began, displacing most residents. The military said it was also expanding the humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi along the coastline in southern Gaza. “For this purpose, two humanitarian evacuation routes from northern Gaza have been reopened: one along the Salaheddine road and the other along the Al-Rashid coastal road,” the military said. Gaza’s civil defense agency meanwhile said an Israeli air strike on a mosque-turned-shelter on Sunday in central Deir Al-Balah killed 26 people. Israel’s military said it had targeted Hamas militants. “The number of martyrs brought to hospitals as a result of the occupation’s targeting of displaced people in the Ibn Rushd school and Al Aqsa Martyrs mosque reached 26, with several more wounded,” a health ministry statement said. Israel’s military said it had “conducted a precise strike on Hamas terrorists who were operating within a command and control center” at the mosque. The war in Gaza broke out after Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. The militants also seized 251 hostages, 97 of whom are still held captive in Gaza, including 33 the Israeli military says are dead. Israel launched a blistering military campaign in Gaza, vowing to destroy Hamas and bring back the hostages. At least 41,825 people have been killed in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, the territory’s health ministry said Sunday.
The UN has acknowledged the figures to be reliable.

Now is the time': Former defense minister Gantz pushes for strike on Iran
Jerusalem Post/October 06/2024
"Israel learned the lesson of Oct. 7; we now bear the responsibility of sharing the lesson with the world," said Gantz in the NYT article.
Benny Gantz, Israel’s former defense minister, compared the October 7 massacre perpetrated by Hamas to the recent rocket attacks from Iran in an opinion piece published by The New York Times. In the NYT article, he delved into the question: "A year later, one must ask: What were Hamas’s leaders hoping for, and what are Iran’s leaders seeking to achieve?"
Three rationales behind Hamas's attack:
Gantz wrote that the first factor was JIhadi fanaticism. This was the component that the IDF underestimated, a senior Israel Defense Forces intelligence commander said to Gantz in the early days of the war, referring to Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’s leader. Secondly, Hamas assessed that Israel's internal issues were a sign of weakness, believing that at Israel's weakest, we would not be capable of uniting and reacting effectively to an attack, Gantz said. Third was loyalty to Iran and its axis of evil. Gantz cited as evidence a document reportedly found in Gaza, written by a Hamas leader on Jan. 8, 2023, that Hamas planned to join together with Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and the Shiite militias in Syria, Iraq, and Iran —in a regional war with the ultimate goal of destroying the Jewish state. Gantz continued that Iran's leadership is similar to Hamas in many ways. They, too, are focused on spreading their fundamentalist ideology and seeking dominance, often through violent means.
He also saw that both Iran and Hamas share the same ambition: to annihilate Israel.
A warning against Iran
Gantz said that he hoped that other nations would not make the same mistake in underestimating Iran as Israel had done with Hamas. He expressed concerns that Iran is preparing and waiting for the right moment to strike as it did so in Lebanon, using Hezbollah to exploit the state’s economic hardships to strengthen the organization’s power. Iran did the same in Syria and then in Yemen as well, taking advantage of the lack of political leadership and the dire humanitarian conditions, and is currently expanding its reach. In the NYT opinion piece, Gantz wrote that since October 7, both Israel and the world must remain proactive in addressing the threat posed by the Iranian regime to Israel’s existence and the region’s future. Gantz expressed that the world must not ignore Iran's impact on Red Sea commerce or its support for Russia in Ukraine. A strong, united Middle East, backed by the US, must act to prevent the realization of the Iranian vision of a regional attack like Oct. 7.
Now is the time to confront Iran
On the military side, Gantz wrote that governments should take strong and proactive action against Iranian aggression and systematically weaken its proxy forces. This is the responsibility Israel has undertaken in the past weeks in its military action against Hezbollah and the Houthis. As it weighs how to respond to Iran’s latest missile attack on Tuesday, Gantz said. In Gantz's opinion, he said governments must also prepare for the right moment to remove the threat of Iran developing a nuclear weapon, should that clear red line be crossed. On the regional side, he said we must strengthen the regional architecture based on the Middle Eastern Air Defense (MEAD) mechanism and the Abraham Accords. Gantz advised the continued development of coordination among Middle Eastern air forces while exploring the possibility of deploying offensive coordination if necessary. Regarding the economic perspective, he wrote nations must cease the funding of terrorism by strengthening sanctions, targeting critical Iranian industries, and pursuing assets abroad. On the legal side, Gantz stated that governments that have not already done so should place the Islamic Republic and its branches, including the Revolutionary Guards, on their terrorist lists.
From a political perspective, Gantz concluded that nations should empower the Iranian opposition and isolate the Iranian regime in major international forums. In the NYT opinion article, Gantz acknowledged that such a united effort will require time and resources. Israel, like Ukraine and Taiwan, is a democracy facing threats from powerful forces that aim to undermine them. Gantz said that if one of these nations falls, it could trigger a chain reaction, forcing other countries in the region to pick sides in the conflict, potentially leading to larger geopolitical consequences.
Israel experienced a painful tragedy on October 7 but also underwent a significant awakening. Now, Gantz believes Israel is responsible for sharing the lesson with the world. A fundamentalist terrorist state cannot acquire lethal capabilities and be expected to act rationally, as we once expected of Hamas.
Gantz said in the NYT opinion article, as someone who has served as Israel’s defense minister and the 20th chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces, he believes Israel is the strongest nation in the Middle East, fighting a just war for the nation’s future and its citizens, and that’s why it will emerge victorious. He stressed in the NYT article that the time to act against Iran is now. He commented that it was not only necessary for Israel but also a strategic imperative for the region and moral clarity for the world for the sake of peace and prosperity in the Middle East.

US to give Israel 'compensation' if it hits acceptable targets in Iran - report
Jerusalem Post/October 06/2024
Israel has vowed a response to the attack, which saw over 180 missiles fired at Israel, killing a single Palestinian in the West Bank. The US has reportedly offered Israel a "compensation package" if it refrains from attacking certain targets in Iran, according to a report in Kan11 on Sunday. Amichai Stein told them that he had received reports from US officials that the US had offered Israel a "compensation package" if it refrained from hitting specific targets in Iran. This package was offered during negotiations between officials of the two countries on the type of response to the attack from Iran. The package would include a total guarantee of comprehensive diplomatic protection as well as a weapons package and was offered directly in return for holding off on striking certain targets in Iran.  Stein summed it up, saying, "An American official said, 'If you don't hit targets A, B, C, we will provide you with diplomatic protection and an arms package.'""Israeli officials responded saying, 'We consider the United States and listen to them. But we will do anything and everything we can to protect the citizens and the security of the State of Israel.'" The IDF has been in ongoing discussions with the United States over its response. Currently, US CENTCOM Chief General Michael Kurilla is in Israel as part of the discussion. Israel has vowed a response to the attack, which saw over 180 missiles fired at Israel, killing a single Palestinian in the West Bank.

Sinwar silent with mediators, believed to have surrounded himself with hostages - Qatari officials
Jerusalem Post/October 06/2024
"He has disappeared for us too and has not made contact," the officials were cited as saying.
Hamas's chief Yahya Sinwar has disappeared and is no longer communicating with Qatari mediators, Qatari officials involved in the hostage deal negotiations told hostages' families last week, according to an exclusive N12 report on Sunday. The officials also told the families that they believed Sinwar surrounded himself with hostages. "Sinwar is currently not communicating with us. He has disappeared for us too and has not made contact," the officials were cited as saying by the Israeli news outlet, adding that due to the eliminations, Sinwar had ceased to communicate via phones. No evidence that Sinwar is dead, Qataris say. At present, Sinwar is communicating through "paper and pen," officials reportedly claimed, adding that there was no evidence that the Hamas leader was killed. The Qatari officials also claimed that Israel's elimination of Hamas leadership had made a hostage-ceasefire deal more challenging. "Israel adopted a policy of eliminations that worsened the deal," the officials reportedly said, adding that "In the past, there was [Hamas's political bureau chief Ismail] Haniyeh, and he was eliminated. Now there is Khaled Mashaal, and he is much more difficult, Haniyeh."
Haniyeh was killed in July during a visit to Tehran. Israel has not claimed responsibility for his death.

Netanyahu tells Macron that putting limits on Israel will strengthen Iran
Reuters/Sun, October 6, 2024 at 12:06 p.m. EDT·2 min read
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by telephone with French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday, his office said, and told him that placing restrictions on Israel will just serve Iran and its proxies. Macron said on Saturday that shipments of arms to Israel used in the war in Gaza should be stopped as part of a broader effort to find a political solution to the conflict. "Just as Iran supports all parts of the Iranian terror axis, so are Israel's friends expected to support it, and not impose restrictions that will only strengthen the Iranian axis of evil," Netanyahu told Macron, according to a statement from his office. Israel has sharply escalated its attacks on Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah in recent weeks, following a year of lower level cross-border conflict waged in parallel with Israel's war against Palestinian militants Hamas, also backed by Iran, after the Oct. 7 attacks last year.
The Israeli government says it aims to allow Israelis to return to their homes in northern Israel, after being evacuated amid Hezbollah rocket attacks that began on Oct. 8 last year.
"The prime minister emphasized that Israel's actions against Hezbollah create an opportunity to change reality in Lebanon to better stability, security and peace in the entire region," the statement said. The two leaders agreed to maintain a dialogue on the matter during the French foreign minister's visit to Israel on Monday, Netanyahu's office said. Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot is on a four-day trip to the Middle East. Paris is seeking to play a role in reviving diplomatic efforts as the Gaza war has widened to Lebanon. Macron told France Inter radio on Saturday that the priority was "to get back to a political solution (and) that arms used to fight in Gaza are halted. France doesn't ship any". "Our priority now is to avoid escalation. The Lebanese people must not in turn be sacrificed, Lebanon cannot become another Gaza," he added. France is not a major weapons provider for Israel, shipping military equipment worth 30 million euros ($33 million) last year, according to the Defence Ministry's annual arms exports report.

Israeli forces return to Jabaliya and issue new evacuation orders
Associated Press/October 06/2024
The Israeli military has announced a new air and ground offensive in Jabaliya, in northern Gaza, home to a densely populated refugee camp dating back to the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation. It circulated photos and video footage showing a column of tanks heading toward the area.Israeli forces encircled Jabaliya as warplanes struck militant sites inside, the military said. Over the course of the war, Israel has carried out several large operations there, only to see militants regroup. Israel reiterated its call, from the opening weeks of the war, for the complete evacuation of northern Gaza. Up to 300,000 people are estimated to have remained in the heavily destroyed north after earlier Israeli warnings that sent around a million fleeing to the south. “We are in a new phase of the war,” the military said in leaflets dropped over the area. “These areas are considered dangerous combat zones.” Palestinian residents reported heavy Israeli strikes across northern Gaza. The Civil Defense — first responders who operate under the Hamas-run government — said several homes and buildings had been hit and they were not able to reach them because of the bombardment. Residents posted about the airstrikes and mourned their relatives on social media. Imad Alarabid said in a Facebook post that an airstrike on his home in Jabaliya killed a dozen family members, including his parents. Saeed Abu Elaish, a Health Ministry medic, said he was wounded and bleeding. “Pray for us,” he wrote on Facebook. Local journalists said one of their colleagues, Hassan Hamd, was killed in artillery shelling on his home in Jabaliya. He had worked as a freelance TV reporter and his footage had aired on Al Jazeera and other networks. Anas al-Sharif, an Al Jazeera reporter in northern Gaza, confirmed his death. Avichay Adraee, a spokesman for the Israeli military, said it has expanded the so-called humanitarian zone in southern Gaza, urging people to head there. Hundreds of thousands of people have already sought refuge in sprawling tent camps there with little in the way of food, water or toilets. Israel has carried out strikes in the humanitarian zone against what it says are militants hiding among civilians. The latest strikes add to the mounting Palestinian death toll in Gaza, which is nearing 42,000, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Israel says France's call for halting sales of arms used in Gaza is a 'disgrace'
Reuters/PARIS/JERSALEM (Reuters)/October 06/2024
-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hit out at France's President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday for saying that shipments of arms to Israel used in the conflict in Gaza should be stopped as part of a broader effort to find a political solution. "Shame on them," Netanyahu said of Macron and other Western leaders who have called for what he described as an arms embargo on Israel. "Israel will win with or without their support," he said in a pre-recorded video released by his office, adding that calling for an arms embargo was a disgrace. Macron earlier told France Inter radio that the priority was "to get back to a political solution (and) that arms used to fight in Gaza are halted. France doesn't ship any." "Our priority now is to avoid escalation. The Lebanese people must not in turn be sacrificed, Lebanon cannot become another Gaza," he added.
France is not a major weapons provider for Israel, shipping military equipment worth 30 million euros ($33 million) last year, according to the defence ministry's annual arms exports report.
Macron's comments come as his Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot is on a four-day trip to the Middle East, wrapping up on Monday in Israel as Paris looks to play a role in reviving diplomatic efforts. ($1 = 0.9111 euros)

Imam: Relations between UK’s Jewish and Muslim communities ‘fragile’
Aine Fox, PA Social Affairs Correspondent/October 6, 2024
Relations between Jewish and Muslim communities in the UK are “fragile and fractured”, a leading imam has said 12 months into the war in Gaza which has seen thousands killed. The continued and escalating military incursion which has seen Israel recently expand its war to take on Hezbollah in Lebanon was described as an “apocalypse” by imam Qari Asim. The chairman of the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board said there has been a “lack of common language to describe the massive onslaught of death and destruction” in Gaza which followed Hamas’s “brutal attack” on October 7 last year. He acknowledged there are “different perspectives” of the conflict and said he has had “a number of open and frank conversations” with Jewish faith leaders “about the pain, trauma and heartbreak that British Muslims feel when they hear on their screens the cries of young children”.He said such dialogue has also involved hearing the perspectives of the Jewish community on “the pain and suffering that they’re experiencing because of the horrific attacks on October 7 last year”.He told the PA news agency: “The relations between Jewish and Muslim communities are currently fragile and fractured.”But he paid tribute to those who have come together to keep communication open between both communities. He said: “Despite the extremely aching and traumatic last 12 months, I see that brave members of our respective communities have continued some form of dialogue. “These encounters and activities show that no matter how fractured interfaith relationships between the two communities may seem in this country, people of all faiths and beliefs stand together when they see a stain on our national moral conscience.”Meanwhile, an imam who regularly shares content on social media criticised the “normalising” of the deaths of thousands of Palestinians, saying it shows humanity has failed.
Sabah Ahmedi, known as “the young imam” online, said he has broken down in tears on many occasions in the 12 months since the Hamas attacks and Israel’s subsequent military bombardment of Gaza – both of which he described as “horrific”. The religious leader, who is a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, said there has been a “complete injustice and double standard” when it comes to the value placed on the lives of Palestinians who are being killed or have been displaced in huge numbers from their homes in Gaza. He told PA: “I’m on social media a lot and I consume a lot of content. But normalising the amount of Palestinians that are being killed – 50 or 60 people are being killed every day – that’s (seen as) normal. Whereas if one person was killed in the West, it’s massive news, it’s huge news. “The value of life of Palestinians compared to other people through what we’re seeing is a complete injustice and double standard. “Over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, how is that appropriate? I don’t have any words. I’ve made so much content online about what’s happening. And I constantly talk about it, that humanity has failed. Mr Ahmedi said he is concerned people could become numb to graphic images seen on social media and in the news and high daily death tolls. He added: “It’s not normal behaviour. It shouldn’t be happening. We shouldn’t be seeing such images. We need an immediate ceasefire.”Asked about the relationship between Muslims and Jewish communities in the past year, he said: “During the war, the relationships between Muslims and Jews have suffered. “It’s become more tense. It’s not linked to religion, but due to the opposing views on the conflict, naturally it has created those tensions, and that’s the reality on the ground.”He said he had met with a rabbi, having attended an event at a synagogue, and the pair spoke about their differences and how “conflicts across the world shouldn’t drive wedges between communities”.He added: “I think what’s really important, actually, as faith leaders, we are reminding our communities that religion is pure. Religion doesn’t seek to kill innocent people.”Asked what he would say to young people who are angry and frustrated as the conflict continues, he stressed the need for dialogue. He said: “We need to use our voice. We need to use our platform. We need to use peaceful means and encourage those in power to bring this violence to an end, because there are clear double standards. “You’ve got 50 or 60 people being killed in Gaza (being seen) as normal, whereas if one or two people are killed in the West, it’s such big news. They’re the double standards. I think those double standards, that is a complete injustice.

Pope Francis names Archbishop of Toronto among 21 new cardinals
National post/October 06/2024
Archbishop Francis Leo, 53, was born in Montreal and previously served as vicar general and moderator of the Curia of the Archdiocese of Montreal. The Archbishop of Toronto is among 21 new cardinals Pope Francis named Sunday and the lone new cardinal from North America. Archbishop Francis Leo, 53, was born in Montreal and previously served as vicar general and moderator of the Curia of the Archdiocese of Montreal and auxiliary bishop of Montreal. He has served as archbishop of Toronto since March 2023. Leo was not available for interviews Sunday as the archdiocese said the news was quite sudden, but he issued a statement saying he is humbled and honoured to receive the appointment. “I pray and rely on the prayers of the faithful in Toronto that I will be a worthy servant of the Lord Jesus in fulfilling my responsibilities as a member of the College of Cardinals and to continue in my primary role as shepherd of the faithful of the Archdiocese of Toronto,” he wrote. The Pope significantly increased the size of the College of Cardinals with Sunday’s appointments, further cementing his mark on the group of prelates who will one day elect his successor.
The new cardinals will get their red hats at a ceremony, known as a consistory, on Dec. 8. One of the other people named Sunday as a cardinal is Monsignor Angelo Acerbi, a retired Vatican diplomat once held hostage for six weeks in Colombia by leftist guerrillas, who at age 99 is the only new intake over 80 and hence too old to vote for a new pope. The South American-born Pope also named as cardinals the heads of several major dioceses and archdioceses from that continent, including archbishop of Santiago del Estero, Argentina, Vicente Bokalic Iglic; the archbishop of Porto Alegre, Brazil, Jaime Spengler; and the archbishop of Santiago, Chile, Fernando Natalio Chomali Garib. Francis also tapped the archbishop of Tehran, Iran, Monsignor Dominique Joseph Mathieu, the bishop of Bogor, Indonesia, Monsignor Paskalis Bruno Syukor, and the archbishop of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Monsignor Ignace Bessi Dogbo, among others. Archbishop Emeritus Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto remains a cardinal elector until January of 2027, the Archdiocese of Toronto wrote in a statement. Other Cardinal-electors from Canada include Cardinal Gerald Lacroix of the Archdiocese of Quebec and Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.

The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on October 06-07/2024
We Will Not Let Our Country and Continent Be Destroyed
Geert Wilders/Gatestone Institute./October 6, 2024
The hatred of extreme left-wing agitators and parts of the left-liberal elite in politics and the media against our Jewish compatriots and the State of Israel since the barbaric massacre of innocent civilians on October 7, 2023, has directly fueled anti-Semitism and hatred of Jews.
It started immediately after October 7 with inflammatory demonstrations of millions of people with false flags and slogans in many European capitals, including many non-Western immigrants, who thereby demonstrated that they do not share any of our values ​​and do not belong here. Then followed the betrayal at universities and in parts of our media and politics. Both nationally and internationally, from the [Netherlands] House of Representatives to the EU and UN, as well as in newspapers and on TV. Every day again. There are now even police officers who refuse to protect Jewish objects and instead of being fired on the spot, their cowardly police chiefs show understanding. We are as strong as our weakest link. And there are so many weak links. All of whom will be commemorating the massacres of a year ago on Monday with packs of butter on their heads [Dutch expression for hypocrites].
I will always continue to point out their cowardice. And stand up for our values, culture and traditions. That also distinguishes us from the hostile killing machines of Hamas cum suis and the defenders of all their evil. They love death but we love life. And we defend our way of life with everything we have. And so we resist with sincere and unprecedented strength against the unfortunately growing hatred of Jews and Israel.
Against giving away our country and continent to migrants who do not share our values. Against politicians, journalists and education administrators who shamelessly choose the side of evil and whose moral compass now lies in Gaza.
We will never give up.
But always fight evil, whatever the cost.
Because we will not let our country and continent be destroyed.
We choose the power of reason.
And we will win.
Here in the Netherlands and in Israel.
Am Israel Chai. [Israel will live.]
Geert Wilders founded the Party for Freedom (PVV) in the Netherlands in 2006, and is the party's leader in the House of Representatives. He has been a monumental member of parliament since 1998.
Gatestone Institute would like to offer special thanks to Geert Wilders MP for his kind permission to publish this piece.
© 2024 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.

Opinion - Israel’s moral dilemma and the tragedy of war
Andrew Latham, opinion contributor/The Hill/October 6, 2024
As we approach the anniversary of Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel, we should reflect not only on the events that transpired but also on the deeper and more universal tragedy of war.
Tragedy, in its classical form, emerges not only from destruction but also from moral conflict — when actors face choices that demand sacrifice, where ideals clash with necessity and where the best intentions still yield suffering. The tragedy of war is not only in the violence it brings but in the moral dilemmas and inevitable human costs it imposes. Israel’s ongoing struggle with Hamas and Hezbollah provides a stark example of this tragic dynamic. Israel faces these conflicts as a democratic state bound by international law and the principles of just war. Hamas and Hezbollah, in contrast, have built their strategies on the deliberate targeting of civilians and the use of their own people as human shields.
This moral asymmetry places Israel in a tragic position, where no matter how carefully it plans or how precisely it strikes, it cannot fully avoid causing harm to innocents.
In the plays of the ancient Greek dramatists, tragedy often emerges from the clash between competing values — between duty and compassion, justice and mercy, survival and morality. The hero often faces impossible choices where every option involves some form of loss or suffering. In this sense, tragedy is not about failure but about the limits of human agency and the inevitability of suffering, even for those trying to do the right thing.
Israel is in a similar tragic bind. Its primary responsibility is to protect its citizens from existential threats. Yet it faces enemies who exploit civilians as shields, forcing Israel into a position where its efforts to minimize harm cannot entirely prevent it. The tragic reality is that even a nation with the best intentions and advanced capabilities cannot wage a war against such adversaries without causing civilian casualties. The dilemma lies in the tension between survival and morality, between the need for security and the desire to avoid the very suffering that war brings.
Modern scholars of international relations have built upon the classical understanding of tragedy to explain the behavior of nations. For John Mearsheimer, tragedy stems from the anarchic nature of the international system itself. As no global authority exists to prevent conflict, states are forced to prioritize survival above all else, often engaging in actions that contradict their moral values. War becomes an inevitable part of the security competition between states, with tragic outcomes.
Mearsheimer argues that states are not inherently evil or aggressive; rather, the structure of the international system compels them to act in ways that ensure their survival, even when those actions lead to suffering and destruction. Despite Israel’s moral commitments and efforts to mitigate harm, it is driven by the need to defend itself against hostile actors who reject its right to exist. This security imperative forces Israel into a tragic position, where actions necessary for survival inevitably cause harm to innocents.
Richard Ned Lebow, in his work on political realism and the tragic nature of international relations, adds another layer. He argues that tragedy arises when leaders and states pursue noble goals but are thwarted by the constraints of the international system, by human nature or by unforeseen circumstances. Israel’s pursuit of a just and secure peace is continually undermined by its adversaries’ refusal to engage in meaningful dialogue, their embrace of terrorism and the geopolitical realities of the region. The tragic irony here is that Israel’s efforts to act morally are often criticized, while its enemies are emboldened by the very suffering they cause. Lebow’s analysis also emphasizes the role of hubris, a classical Greek concept often found in tragic heroes who believe they can control their fate. Israel’s military superiority and advanced technologies may provide a sense of battlefield control, but even the most precise strikes cannot fully eliminate the risks of civilian harm in modern urban warfare. The hubris, if there is any, lies in the belief that war can ever be fully free of tragedy.
The classical tragic hero often finds themselves torn between two equally compelling but irreconcilable demands, and so too does Israel. The state’s responsibility to defend its citizens clashes with its desire to uphold humanitarian values, and no amount of technological sophistication or moral intent can resolve this tension. The efforts made by Israel to mitigate civilian casualties — including the use of precision strikes, advance warnings and evacuation procedures — reflect a conscious attempt to reduce the human cost of war. These efforts, however, cannot eliminate the suffering inherent in conflict.
Israel does not seek to maximize civilian casualties — in fact, its military doctrine is designed to avoid them. Yet the tragic outcome of civilian death remains, a testament to the inescapable realities of war in densely populated areas. In contrast, Hamas and Hezbollah actively embrace the suffering of civilians as part of their strategy by using human shields, positioning military infrastructure in civilian areas and celebrating martyrdom — revealing a total disregard for the laws of war. The tragic irony here is that while Israel is scrutinized for the civilian casualties that occur despite its precautions, its adversaries are celebrated by their supporters for the very suffering they intentionally cause.
The tragedy of war lies not just in the violence and destruction but in the moral dilemmas that war imposes. Israel’s struggle against Hamas and Hezbollah is a tragic conflict because it forces the state to navigate an impossible moral terrain, where every action to ensure survival comes at the cost of unintended suffering. Yet the true measure of tragedy is not merely in the suffering caused but in the efforts made to prevent it. Israel’s attempts to wage war in accordance with the laws of armed conflict, even against adversaries who reject those norms, reflect its commitment to mitigate the inevitable tragedy of war. In doing so, Israel faces the tragic reality that no war can be fought without cost, and no amount of restraint can eliminate the suffering of armed conflict. While war is always tragic, the difference between those who seek to minimize suffering and those who revel in it remains a fundamental moral distinction. In the tragic theater of international conflict, Israel stands as a state striving to uphold its values in the face of an adversaries that thrive on the chaos and suffering of war.
*Andrew Latham is a professor of international relations at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minn., a senior fellow at the Institute for Peace and Diplomacy, and a non-resident fellow at Defense Priorities in Washington, D.C.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Former Defense chief: Israeli attack on Iran nuclear facilities would be ‘significant strike’
Filip Timotija/The Hill/October 06/2024
Should Israel attack Iran’s nuclear facilities? Biden, GOP disagree. Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper weighed in on Israel’s likely response to a barrage of missiles launched by Tehran earlier this week and potential attacks on Iran nuclear facilities, saying it would be a “significant strike.”“It’ll be a significant strike,” he told CNN’s Anderson Cooper Friday evening. “And the first question will be is what do they want to achieve if they want to go after regime change? And I think they’ll … go into Tehran and they’ll go after the Ayatollah Khomeini, they’ll go after President [Masoud] Pezeshkian, and they’ll go after the [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps].”
Esper, who served under the Trump administration, added that Israel’s military would also have to knock out Iran’s command and control centers to prevent communication with the rest of the regime. But, he added, if they were to attack Iran’s nuclear sites, Israel would need to assess the risk of losing some personnel. “If they want to go after military capabilities and you would look at strategic assets like the nuclear sites that are just south of Tehran and places like Fordow and Iraq and stuff like that, the danger of course, is that you have to go deep into the territory and you may lose a pilot,” the former Defense chief said. “Same thing as if you go up north to Tehran.”
“The other challenge, by the way of going after regime change, the downside is you risk civilian casualties,” Esper said later. “And what you don’t want to do is to have the Iranian people rally around that regime, particularly since it’s so fragile right now, and they’re really not happy with the Iranian regime.”
His comments come after President Biden said earlier this week that he does not support the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) carrying out strikes on Iranian oil or nuclear sites.
GOP defense hawks, however, have disagreed with the president, arguing that nuclear facilities are fair game after Iran launched some 180 missiles at Israel in retaliation for the Israeli military’s killing of top Hezbollah leaders and a recent incursion into Lebanon. The latest attacks come as Israel’s war against Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza nears its one-year anniversary.
Esper said another set of military targets that Israel could target are ballistic missile production sites, storage sites and drone production sites. He added that the IDF could also go after “economic targets.”
“We’ve talked about the 12 to 14 facilities involved in oil refining and manufacturing and distribution, and some are right there on the Gulf Coast,” he said Friday.Asked if Israel is capable of handling the risk of a wider war in the region if they do retaliate against Iran, Esper said, “I suspect they are.” But, he noted, they would need help from allies, such as the U.S. “We would need to be there to support them in different ways. Of course, the production of the munitions and other means would be critical. And in some, depending on the operation or some things they need our assistance on,” he said.
But I believe they will. I suppose they’ve been preparing this for a long time. And look, this is quite a change in a strategic situation,” he continued. “We haven’t seen this ever really. But the simple fact that Hamas is now on its knees, it’s nearly decimated.”
He added that Hezbollah too is “on the ropes” after Israel took out much of its leadership.
“That was really always the counterpunch, the right hook that Iran had in its back pocket in case Israel ever attacked Iran, and now they’re gone,” he said. “So, what does Iran have left to respond with if Israel hits back really hard? Another salvo of ballistic missiles.”
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, defended Iran’s attack, which was thwarted quickly by Israel’s Iron Dome, in a rare speech Friday, arguing it was “correct, logical, and lawful.”
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

A year to forget that cannot be forgotten
Yossi Mekelberg/Arab News/October 07, 2024
It is hard to digest that it has been a year since Oct. 7, 2023. Twelve months, 52 weeks, 365 days, yet there is no end in sight to this war or the suffering, and to what end? Late last month, I visited the holy land for the first time since the war began, fully expecting to meet two traumatized societies trying to cope — to the best of their abilities — with the losses they have suffered while the war is still raging.
Despite the asymmetry in power between the Israelis and the Palestinians, both endure a profound sense of fear, distrust in one another and in their own leadership, and doubts as to what the future holds for them. With stalled negotiations over a ceasefire and with no prospect for the return of the hostages, along with the escalation between Israel, Hezbollah and Iran, the mood was naturally gloomy, but not hopeless.
One of the first places I visited was Kibbutz Nir Oz, a community that suffered some of the worst carnage on Oct. 7. Of its 400 residents, 57 were killed and 76 kidnapped. Nir Metzger, a member of the kibbutz, volunteered to show a colleague and me the destroyed houses. Nir’s father was kidnapped and killed in captivity. His mother, who was also kidnapped, was released through the first deal with Hamas, in return for Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners.
He surprised us with his calm and measured manner as he described his own battle for survival during the attack, his protection of his young family and the loss of his beloved father. Just before we left, we asked him about the future of relations with the Palestinians. Despite everything he and his family have experienced, Nir said with no hesitation that he still believed in a two-state solution, but one that would ensure that Oct. 7 would not happen again.
It was comforting to hear not only from him, but also from others, as opinion polls indicate, that there is still a sizable minority on both sides who believe that the only way forward for both peoples is the mutual recognition of the other’s right to self-determination. Although it was difficult to find anyone who knows how to make this happen, what the process to achieve it should be and what the preferred model of a two-state solution should look like. I had a very similar impression when discussing the situation with Palestinians. They are also fearful for the future and angry, but not hopeless. They gave me reason to hope that, given the right conditions and right leadership, peace is not impossible.
If there is a consensus on either side of the Green Line, it is that their leaders have failed them. But they are also not able to identify a better leadership than their present one — a leadership with the courage and vision to steer them out of the worst phase in this more than a century-long conflict.
Interestingly, there are growing voices among Palestinians who demand international protection, and one can hardly blame them. In Gaza, more than 1.7 million of the Strip’s 2.2 million population are displaced with hardly any shelter, access to food, clean water, sanitation or medical help. They have been failed by their own leaders and punished by the Israelis, who either see them as collaborators with Hamas or blame them for not rebelling against it.
After the shock of Oct. 7, Israel recovered militarily, as it has done in the past when it was surprised, but politically and diplomatically it lacks a strategy on how to translate achievements on the battlefield into long-term political achievements. Instead, it is looking for more military targets.
Prior to Oct. 7, Netanyahu was on the path to annexation and strengthening Hamas to avert a two-state solution.
One of the aspects that maintains these conflicts is that people on both sides feel like victims and therefore feel entitled to victimize the other, showing little to no empathy. And in this asymmetric war, it is the Palestinians who are paying by far the heavier price, which gives much credibility to their growing demand for international protection, as much in the West Bank as in Gaza, as settler terrorism is on the rise and out of control.
There was a general consensus among those I spoke to that both societies are victims of their leaderships. I can only fully concur with them. As much as one uncompromisingly opposes the indifference of the Israeli security forces to the killing of civilians, as well as the inhuman blockade for nearly two decades before the war, Hamas’ leadership has also oppressed its own people and on Oct. 7 opened the gates of hell by its own actions. They should have realized that, although maybe that was what they wanted.
And with a different government in Israel, there would have been a good chance this annus horribilis would never have happened. Prior to Oct. 7, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his worst government since the state of Israel’s inception was all about expanding settlements, entrenching a cruel occupation on the path to annexation and strengthening Hamas to avert a two-state solution. Netanyahu was also concentrating on his political survival and manipulating the political and judicial systems to ensure his corruption trial would never reach its ultimate conclusion. The results of all of this have been catastrophic.
It is also the lack of a viable alternative in Israel; one that is courageous enough not only to resist the judicial coup by the current Israeli government but to link preserving Israeli democracy with the end of the occupation. There is also a need to inject into the discourse the thought that there cannot be two judicial systems — a democratic one for Israeli citizens, especially if they are Jewish, and one that is, for all intents and purposes, a military one.
For many Israelis, what symbolizes the complete moral bankruptcy of the Israeli government and its disregard even for its own people is Netanyahu’s approach toward the hostages and their families. For the first time in the country’s history, hostages and prisoners of war are not a priority. Typical to Netanyahu and his sycophants’ cavalier attitude to human life, they not only abandon the hostages in the tunnels of Gaza, but they also incite against their families.
A year on and not only does the war in Gaza continue with no end in sight, but it has also now expanded to Lebanon and even Iran. Can this Israeli government define a political endgame or will it take the country down the path of never-ending wars with its enemies? I doubt it will do the former. Yet, despite the hardships endured by all who are embroiled in this conflict, my lasting impression from my visit to the holy land is that there is still an inherent belief in the possibility of a better future for both peoples. It is for the international community to empower them to translate their belief and activism into a new reality.
*Yossi Mekelberg is a professor of international relations and an associate fellow of the MENA Program at Chatham House. X: @YMekelberg

Humiliated ayatollahs are already plotting the next war
Baria Alamuddin/Arab News/October 07, 2024
After Iran’s second massive barrage of rockets last week, which failed to cause any significant damage to its targets in Israel, Ayatollah Khamenei’s speech — delivered in Arabic — spoke volumes about who his priority audiences are.
He asserted that “resistance” factions such as Hamas and Hezbollah provided a “vital service” to Muslims of “the entire region” and would “not back down” – while failing to offer more than rhetorical support. Iran’s transnational proxy armies are a bulwark of defense for Iran itself, and Khamenei would happily see all these Arab militias incinerated in the exalted cause of regime survival. The Revolutionary Guard will already be drawing lessons from Hezbollah’s decapitation and Iran’s failure to meaningfully confront Israel. While the ayatollahs will not jettison their paranoid, expansionist ideology of exporting the revolution, they will require new strategies to outmaneuver and outgun Tehran’s many enemies in future phases of conflict.
There will be redoubled efforts to achieve military nuclear breakout capacity, because — hawkish ayatollahs will argue — events might have played out differently if Tehran had possessed a nuclear bomb. Particularly if Israel attacks Iranian oil installations, renewed threats to block the Strait of Hormuz would be inevitable, along with a stepping-up of Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, or missile attacks on GCC states with all the knock-on effects of soaring oil prices and economic costs. “If the energy war begins, the world will lose 12 million barrels of oil per day. Either everyone will enjoy the blessings of energy, or everyone will be deprived,” was the threat from Abu Ali Al-Askari of Kata’ib Hezbollah, the Tehran-backed Iraqi militia.
Last week a cargo plane in Iraqi airspace en route from Iran to Lebanon was forced to turn back after Israel raised concerns that it could be carrying weapons. Israel has also been stepping up bombing of the Lebanon-Syria border, to deter movements of munitions and people. Over time, Iran will seek to replenish Hezbollah with weapons and funding, even as it leaves the reconstruction of Lebanon to others.
But Tehran may not rush. The ayatollahs’ relationships with Iran’s paramilitary proxies are rooted in intimate ties with militia leaders going back decades. Hezbollah’s emerging leadership will be unknown, untested figures. Israel’s remarkable penetration and neutralization of Hezbollah’s communications network will require new mechanisms to prevent espionage and sabotage. Consequently, Hezbollah will need considerable time to restore even a shadow of its former prestige.
The killing of paramilitary poster-boy Hassan Nasrallah will accelerate the growing regional pre-eminence of Iraqi paramilitaries. With a force of around 240,000, Iraq’s Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi is more than the size of Hezbollah: its $3.5 billion annual budget and massive economic holdings are many times greater than the stipends Hezbollah receives from Iran.
Tehran regards Iraq, protecting Iran’s western flank, as the crown jewels of its paramilitary franchises, and goes to great pains to distance the Hashd from the current war. When Iraqi and Syrian paramilitaries have offered to join the fray in Lebanon, they have repeatedly been told they aren’t needed, in part out of fear that they will be attacked at vulnerable border crossings en route.
A year after the Oct. 7 attacks, Iran knows that it has been colossally outmaneuvered and is already wargaming the next conflict
Just as Nasrallah adopted a regionalized leadership role after the 2020 deaths of Qassim Soleimani and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, expect megalomaniac Iraqi warlords such as Qais Al-Khazali, Abu Fadak Al-Mohammadawi and Akram Al-Kaabi to aspire to regionwide notoriety, with Iraqi paramilitaries probably taking the lead in rebuilding Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis in this war’s aftermath.
America’s commitment to withdraw from Iraq and Syria is a major victory for these proxies. It may embolden them to further target Jordan, from where US forces neutralized Iran’s missile assaults on Tel Aviv. Iraqi proxies have been vocal about seeking to destabilize the kingdom in a way that would allow them to redeploy to Israel’s eastern borders, leaving Israel precariously encircled. Iraq’s leaders have raised concerns that provocative militia activities, such as firing rockets at US bases and at Israel directly, could bring the country directly into the line of fire.
The US pullout from eastern Syria will allow proxy paramilitaries to consolidate their corridor of control from Tehran to the Mediterranean. Although Israel may emerge the undisputed victor, a humiliated and vengeful Tehran could be well placed to exploit the fragile regional situation to reinforce its proxies’ pre-eminence.
Lebanese citizens have been furiously rebuking Hezbollah online for having brought biblical levels of destruction upon Beirut and Lebanon while scarcely landing a blow on Israel. I purchased groceries from an émigré Shiite Lebanese man who expressed utter confidence that Nasrallah was still alive, and Hezbollah had yet to deploy its heavy weaponry, which he expected would transform the battlefield — illustrating how people are struggling to come to terms with recent jaw-dropping developments. Just as the 1967 war was an incalculable setback for Arab self-confidence, Hezbollah may face a devastating domestic reckoning once this war ends.
Lebanese political factions should exploit the drubbing suffered by Hezbollah to pursue a very different political formula, founded on democratic non-sectarian principles, preventing the indefinite blocking of appointments of president and government roles.
With each successive generation since 1947, Israel’s decisive victories have sown only hatred, radicalization and vengeance. Just like the cluster bombs, phosphorus and depleted uranium left on battlefields, the poison produced by Israel’s disproportionate campaigns of collective punishment gave birth to Hamas, Hezbollah and Daesh. Radicalized versions of Hamas and Hezbollah will emerge even more implacably determined to ensure Israel’s destruction.
The mullahs of Tehran have faced huge setbacks in the past in their decades-long quest for regional domination. The eradication of Hezbollah’s top leadership will hardly prompt a change of heart. The ayatollahs sense their existential vulnerability, particularly with Netanyahu warning last week that the regime’s demise “will come a lot sooner than people think.” Previous defeats have been followed relentlessly by rearmament, sponsorship of new paramilitary forces and diversion of large additional funds via the Revolutionary Guards.
A year after the Oct. 7 attacks, Iran knows that it has been colossally outmaneuvered and is already wargaming the next conflict. The world must be one step ahead by preventing renewed flows of arms and funding into Lebanon and Iraq, with reinvigorated efforts to halt Iran’s nuclear program, while exploiting the temporary weakness of Iran’s proxies to support disarmament of militias, and commitments to governance free from paramilitary interference.
• Baria Alamuddin is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster in the Middle East and the UK. She is editor of the Media Services Syndicate and has interviewed numerous heads of state.

The four observations that mark a year since Oct. 7
Faisal J. Abbas/Arab News/October 07, 2024
One year after Oct. 7, it is now definite that the Middle East will never return to the way it once was. As the voice of a changing region, we try on this day to document and analyze what these groundbreaking events mean within our special coverage marking this horrific year.
The first observation to note is that Hamas, Hezbollah and other Iranian proxies in the Middle East may have been painted way taller than they actually are, as renowned political commentator and CNN anchor Fareed Zakaria told Arab News in an exclusive interview on our talk show: “Frankly Speaking.” “It’s really extraordinary, first, just to note how well Israeli intelligence was able to penetrate Hezbollah,” Zakaria said, commenting on the exploding pagers, the locations of the weapons caches and the locations of the leadership, including that of its elusive Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah. “I think that what we are seeing both with Hezbollah and with Iran is that perhaps we have painted them to be 10 feet tall when they were really, you know, more like 5 feet tall.” It is unimaginable that, in 2024, a UN member state can have such impunity so as to kill more than 43,000 people, injure nearly 200,000 and displace 3 million across Lebanon and Palestine.
In his own recent interview with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on CNN, Zakaria even noted that the newcomer implied that Iran “did not have the capacity” to engage in an all-out war with Israel and that “this was up to Hezbollah.”
“He said, essentially, we should call a meeting of Islamic countries to condemn what Israel is doing. That’s not a particularly lethal response that you’d imagine, and very different from his predecessors,” Zakaria said. That being said, perhaps Hamas and Hezbollah themselves did not realize this when they waged an attack that ended up causing unimaginable damage, destruction and death across Lebanon and Palestine.
The second observation is the obscene failure of the UN. As we point out in our story, the unconditional military and diplomatic support from many Western countries exacerbated internal divisions within the Security Council and severely impacted its ability to act.
Even the body’s Secretary-General Antonio Guterres — who has been declared a persona non grata in Israel — confessed to us in an interview on the sidelines of the General Assembly that “we (the UN) have no real power, let’s be honest. The body of the UN that holds some power is the Security Council, and that body is paralyzed.”
You have the Saudi vision for a more integrated region versus the havoc of continuing to allow extremists to continue doing the same thing while the world expects a different result.
It is unimaginable that, in 2024, a UN member state can have such impunity so as to kill more than 43,000 people, injure nearly 200,000 and displace 3 million across Lebanon and Palestine, while a ceasefire continues to be vetoed and some Western allies, who have long preached to us about human rights, continue to arm them.
The third observation, which has become more and more apparent, is that you can win much more with an open palm than a closed fist. This is what Saudi Arabia has demonstrated with its marathon of diplomatic efforts, which managed to win recognition for Palestine, as our story elaborates, with its leading of the effort, notably securing more than 140 of the UN’s 193 member states’ recognition of the state of Palestine.
Fourth, and this has been repeated time and time again, the longer this continues, the wider it becomes — as highlighted in our story of Lebanon’s struggles as the world holds its breath and braces for a widely expected Israeli retaliation on Iran.
To conclude, violence begets violence and the blame game will never end.
As reiterated in a recent Financial Times column by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the only guarantee for Israeli security is a two-state solution. However, there needs to be an appetite to push for it within Israel and on the agenda of the next US president, whoever it may be. The rationale cannot be any clearer: you have the Saudi vision for a more integrated, more prosperous and more peaceful region versus the havoc of continuing to allow extremists, be they in Benjamin Netanyahu’s government or militant groups, to continue doing the same thing while the world expects a different result.
*Faisal J. Abbas is the editor-in-chief of Arab News. X: @FaisalJAbbas