At least 19 people were killed, including 8 women, in Israeli strikes on two settlements in the area of the city Baalbek in Eastern Lebanon, reported the world agencies quoted by BTA, referring to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
Eight are the victims of an attack on the town of Bednaiel, among them five women. There are eleven victims in the village of Mazrat Beit Salibi, three of whom are women.
The Israeli military said it targeted command centers and infrastructure of “Hezbollah” in the region of Baalbek and in Nabatieh, in southern Lebanon, reported France Press.
"Hezbollah systematically uses civilian infrastructure across Lebanon to prepare and carry out terrorist activities, deliberately putting the lives of Lebanese citizens at risk,” the Israeli military said.
Lebanese caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati said he hoped “within hours“ to declare a truce and an end to hostilities between the Lebanese group “Hezbollah” and the Israeli army, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA. Mikati previously spoke with US envoy Ames Hochstein.
According to DPA and France Presse, citing Mikati's statement to Al Jahid TV, he said he hoped for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. to be achieved within days.
„During a telephone conversation, American emissary Hochstein hinted that a cease-fire between Israel and “Hezbollah” it is possible before the American presidential elections on November 5," Mikati said to the local TV station "Al Jahid", reported France Press.
"We are doing everything necessary to achieve a ceasefire in the coming hours or days,” Mikati added. But he said he was “cautiously optimistic”.
He also stated that “Hezbollah” is too late to distinguish the Lebanese front from the one in Gaza.
Earlier today, the new leader of “Hezbollah” Naim Qassem stated that he is ready for a ceasefire with Israel under certain conditions.
"If the Israelis decide they want to stop the aggression, we say we will accept, but under conditions we deem appropriate,”, Kassem said in a pre-recorded statement. He emphasized that for the moment there is no ceasefire project that Israel has accepted and that “Hezbollah” to be able to discuss. “We will not beg for a ceasefire,” Kassem added.
The Israeli television “Channel 12“ reported discussions held yesterday evening between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a limited number of Israeli representatives, with the aim of a 60-day ceasefire, reported AFP.
"Any political solution will be possible through indirect negotiations”, Qassem said today and added that the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri, who is an ally of “Hezbollah”, has been tasked with a mandate from the group to negotiate a termination on the fire.
DPA reports that the American emissary Hochstein will leave for the Middle East tomorrow together with the White House coordinator for Middle Eastern affairs Brett McGurk.
Israel has said it will guarantee the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip despite a new law it passed this week banning activities in the country by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) or with the agency it works with in the country, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
„Israel remains committed to international law and will ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza through international organizations that are free from terrorist activity, such as the World Food Program, UNICEF, the World Health Organization and many others,” it said in a statement. the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The UN Security Council, for its part, today “strongly warned against any attempts to suspend or reduce“ of the work and mandate of the Palestine Refugee Agency. In a unanimously approved statement, the 15-member Security Council expressed grave concern about the law passed on Monday.
The Security Council “urged the Israeli government to comply with its international obligations, respect the privileges and immunities of the Palestine Refugee Agency, and fulfill its responsibility to provide and facilitate full, prompt, safe and unimpeded humanitarian assistance in all it forms throughout the Gaza Strip.“