Israeli rescue services reported that almost 60 individuals sustained injuries from a drone strike in the central city of Binyamina on Sunday, with three of those wounded critically. This attack has been attributed to the militant group Hezbollah and marks one of the most severe strikes on Israeli soil in the year-long conflict.
Drone Attacks Intensify
According to reports, two drones were launched from Lebanon, with the Israeli military confirming that one was intercepted. The details surrounding the identities of the injured—whether they were military personnel or civilians—remain unclear. This incident follows another drone strike just a day prior in a suburb of Tel Aviv during the Yom Kippur holiday, which resulted in property damage but no injuries.
U.S. Military Support and Retaliation Plans
The drone strikes coincide with the announcement from the United States that it would be sending a new air-defense system to Israel, aimed at enhancing the country’s protective measures against missile threats. As Israel grapples with conflict on multiple fronts, including ongoing hostilities with Hamas in Gaza and skirmishes with Hezbollah in Lebanon, military analysts believe Israel is preparing a response to Iran’s missile attack on October 1, which saw approximately 180 missiles fired into Israel.
Civilian Casualties and Destruction in Gaza
The situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate as Israel conducts near-daily strikes targeting what it claims are militant locations. One such strike late Saturday targeted a home in the Nuseirat refugee camp, resulting in the tragic deaths of a family of eight, including six children aged 8 to 23. Witnesses described the devastation, with family members mourning the loss. “They were safe, while he was sleeping, and he and all his children died,” lamented Mohammad Abu Ghali, the brother of the deceased.
Criticism of Military Tactics
International scrutiny is mounting as Israel has been accused of endangering United Nations peacekeepers since the onset of its ground operations in Lebanon. Reports indicate that Israeli forces have fired on UN positions, with the peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, condemning these actions as violations of international law. Israeli officials maintain that Hezbollah’s presence near these peacekeepers complicates the situation, although they have yet to provide substantial evidence.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly criticized UNIFIL, suggesting the peacekeepers serve as a “human shield” for Hezbollah. “We regret the injury to the UNIFIL soldiers, and we are doing everything in our power to prevent this injury,” he stated. However, he emphasized that the safest option for peacekeepers would be to evacuate the area entirely.
Humanitarian Crisis in Northern Gaza
In northern Gaza, where Israeli air and ground forces have intensified operations, the humanitarian situation is dire. The military has ordered the full evacuation of northern Gaza, including Gaza City, with an estimated 400,000 residents remaining despite these directives. Concerns are rising that Israel may be aiming to permanently depopulate this area, potentially to establish military bases or settlements.
The United Nations has reported that no food supplies have entered northern Gaza since October 1. Fares Abu Hamza, an emergency service official with the Gaza Health Ministry, highlighted the grim reality on the ground, stating that many bodies remain uncollected from the streets due to ongoing violence. “We are unable to reach them,” he said, noting that animals have begun to scavenge the remains.
Escalation in Southern Lebanon
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon have destroyed an Ottoman-era market in the city of Nabatiyeh, resulting in at least one death and several injuries. As rescuers searched through the rubble, the Israeli military stated the strikes were aimed at Hezbollah targets.
The escalating conflict has seen the Lebanese Red Cross engaged in rescue operations, facing challenges from ongoing airstrikes. The Red Cross confirmed that their operations were coordinated with UN peacekeepers, who had communicated with the Israeli military regarding the efforts.
Since the conflict reignited on October 7, 2023, after a Hamas-led incursion into southern Israel, over 42,000 Palestinians have reportedly lost their lives, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Meanwhile, Israeli officials state they have killed more than 17,000 militants without providing substantiated evidence of these claims.
