BEIRUT: Israeli military on Monday launched deadly strikes on Lebanon and Gaza, pressing their offensive against Hezbollah and Hamas after Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi proposed a two-day ceasefire to halt Israeli bombardments in Gaza.
Sisi’s truce plan, announced Sunday, included a two-day truce and hostage and prisoner exchange to facilitate a permanent ceasefire; however, both Israel and Hamas have yet to officially respond to the truce proposal.
Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that Mossad chief David Barnea was in Qatar, negotiating a potential deal to release hostages held by Hamas. Despite diplomatic efforts, Israel continued relentless bombardment, with airstrikes in Gaza and Lebanon killing several people and leaving widespread destruction.
In southern Lebanon, Israeli strikes targeted the port city of Tyre, killing at least five people, the Lebanese health ministry said. Witnesses described scenes of devastation, with apartment blocks reduced to rubble as rescue workers searched for survivors.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah said that it had attacked Israeli border positions with rockets and artillery. Last month, Israel escalated its air strikes across Lebanon and launched ground operations, following a year of low-intensity cross-border exchanges that the Lebanese group says were in support of Hamas.
Since September 23, at least 1,620 people have been killed in Lebanon, according to official figures, though the real number is likely to be higher due to gaps in the data.
Meanwhile, Gaza endured fresh waves of Israeli airstrikes and shelling. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported three fatalities in Gaza City following a drone attack, while strikes on the northern and central regions of the enclave led to further casualties. The Israeli military confirmed an ongoing ground and aerial assault in Jabalia, a focal point since the offensive began in October.
The war has also stirred tensions with Iran, which has vowed a “firm and effective” response to Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military sites. Iranian Revolutionary Guards chief Hossein Salami denounced the Israeli attacks as a “miscalculation” and warned of severe repercussions for Israel.
On Saturday, Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed four Iranian soldiers, marking the first direct confrontation with Iran that Israel has openly acknowledged. The strikes were reportedly in retaliation for Tehran’s earlier missile attacks.
In a statement Monday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed a desire to avoid further escalation but assured that Iran would respond appropriately to any aggression.
Egypt’s truce plan includes a proposal to exchange four Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, with negotiations to resume within 10 days in hopes of achieving a permanent ceasefire. However, significant obstacles remain. Hamas demanded a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, a condition Israel has refused.
Since October 7, 2023, more than 43,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in the ongoing Israeli bombardment campaign in Gaza, the territory’s health ministry said.
In Israel, families of hostages have renewed calls for an agreement following the recent killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant acknowledged the complexity of negotiations, admitting that “painful concessions” would be required to secure a resolution, as military measures alone cannot fulfill Israel’s objectives.
At home, Iranian leaders played down the severity of the strikes in response to Tehran’s October 1 missile attack on Israel, itself retaliation for the killing of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders and a Revolutionary Guards commander.
The UN Security Council is set to convene later on Monday at Iran’s request, with Iranian officials urging a global condemnation of Israel’s recent strikes. Meanwhile, global oil markets showed stability, easing fears of a broader regional conflict for the time being.
