اخبار لبنان
موقع كل يوم -صحيفة الجمهورية
نشر بتاريخ: ١٩ شباط ٢٠٢٤
Today, Israel expanded the scope of its attacks as it targeted, for the first time since the beginning of the war, the Gaza area south of Sidon. This aggression follows a series of Israeli airstrikes on southern areas. In response, Hezbollah has escalated its military operations against Israeli army positions and settlements, announcing that the Islamic resistance targeted agricultural sites and locations in the Shabaa Farms.
Following the aggression on Gaza, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates called on all countries interested in restoring stability and calm to southern Lebanon to condemn the ongoing and escalating Israeli attacks on Lebanon.
Additionally, the ministry urged the international community to pressure Israel to cease its provocative attempts to expand the wars scope, avoiding dragging Lebanon into a conflict that threatens its security and stability, as well as the entire region, with only resulting in devastation and ruin.
As attention turns to the Cabinet session scheduled by Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the end of the week, the political and presidential situation remains uncertain.
Regionally, on the 136th day of the Israeli war on Gaza, the Israeli army continues to threaten to expand the fighting to include Rafah in the southern part of the Strip.
Meanwhile, Palestinian forces have condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus directive to restrict Palestinians access to Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan, urging resistance to the proposed decision and encouraging people to gather at the mosque and stand firm.
Furthermore, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has stated that 'the government has lost the confidence of the Americans and the international community, and we need a change.' He criticized the government for only engaging in disputes with the Americans and lacking plans for the return of citizens in the north.
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared, 'Israel will maintain full security control over the entire West Bank and Gaza Strip.' He added that there is unity within Israel against the international attempt to impose a Palestinian state on them.
Criticism against Netanyahu continues, with Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majid Al-Ansari stating that Netanyahus recent statements, calling on Qatar to pressure Hamas to release detainees, are just another attempt to procrastinate and prolong the war. Qatar has been committed since day one to mediation efforts to end the crisis and free the detainees, he noted, emphasizing that the humanitarian ceasefire that freed 109 detainees proved that negotiation is the only solution to their release and de-escalation.
The diplomatic repercussions of the war on Gaza are ongoing, with the latest being Brazil withdrawing its ambassador from Israel. This comes after Brazilian President accused Israel of committing 'genocide' in Gaza, likening its actions there to the 'Holocaust' during World War II. Subsequently, the Israeli Foreign Ministry summoned the Brazilian ambassador for reprimand.
On a different note, through Qatari mediation, Russia handed over 11 children to the Ukrainian side, and family reunions were facilitated at the Qatari embassy in Moscow, attended by the Qatari ambassador and the Russian presidential commissioner for childrens rights, as part of a separate context.
