Israel lands a strategic blow in Lebanon and attacks the Hamas office on the outskirts of Beirut with drones, killing Saleh al-Arouri, the number two of the organization, key man and link with Hezbollah, Iran and Türkiye. A targeted, surprise raid in which other senior military officials of the militiamen also died. Perhaps also Kalil Al Hayya, also a member of the Hamas politburo, according to some media reports, even if the news is not confirmed elsewhere. Arouri's death risks spreading the Israel-Lebanon conflict, so far 'limited' to exchanges of fire along the border with Hezbollah, with the Israeli army declaring “maximum alert”, ready “for any eventuality”. But it also complicates the already very weak diplomatic attempts with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken who has postponed – Israeli sources announce – his trip to the region, scheduled for this week. And he seems destined to block attempts at negotiations for the hostages: Arab diplomatic sources have made it known, writes Haartez, that “the situation has changed” and the talks are interrupted. “Now no progress is possible,” they reported.
Hamas, in confirming the death of the leader, thundered by stating that «the cowardly murders carried out by the Zionist occupier against the leaders and symbols of our Palestinian people inside and outside Palestine will not succeed in breaking the will and resilience of our people, nor to hinder the continuation of his courageous resistance,” he said through Ezzat al-Rishq, a member of the political bureau. And Islamic Jihad has increased the threat: Israel “will pay the price for its crimes”.
Secca also condemns Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati for whom Israel “aims to drag Lebanon into a new phase of the war”. The Jewish state, however, did not comment on the news, although immediately afterwards restricted consultations took place between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, before a meeting of the war cabinet. On X, however, a Likud member, Dani Danon, congratulated Mossad and Shin Bet for the operation in Beirut. Meanwhile in Gaza, where the death count has risen to 22,185 according to the Ministry of Health, the war continues without pause: Israel is hitting the south of the Strip hard, announcing at the same time that Israeli forces have managed to take control of the military command of Hamas in the East Gaza sector.
It consisted, a spokesperson specified, of 37 buildings, within a civil residential area, which includes hospitals, schools and condominiums. The Hamas Command was connected to a network of tunnels. The soldiers found the entrances of five tunnels. At 20 meters underground there was the command bunker from where Hamas managed the phases of the war. On a day that marks a dangerous turning point, with unpredictable consequences, Israel has meanwhile made it known that it will appear before the International Court of Justice in The Hague to defend itself against South Africa's accusations of genocide. According to the Israeli newspaper, the decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Netanyahu and followed consultations with the Ministry of Justice, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the National Security Council. The high tension also has reverberations in Turkey, where 33 people suspected of “espionage” in favor of the Mossad were arrested. According to state TV TRT, these are people suspected of having worked for Israeli services with the aim of identifying, surveilling and kidnapping foreign citizens residing in Turkey.
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007 USA, 'Hamas used Gaza hospital as command centre'
Hamas and other Palestinian groups fighting against Israel have used Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza as a command center. The New York Times reports it citing American intelligence sources. The hospital was at the center of an internationally criticized Israeli operation. According to 007, Hamas fighters evacuated the hospital complex a few days before the operation, destroying all documents and electronic devices. There were also some hostages in the hospital for several days.
Media, 2 soldiers slightly injured in Hezbollah raid on the border
Two Israeli soldiers were slightly injured in a Hezbollah anti-tank missile attack on a military post near the community of Menara, near the border with Lebanon, Hebrew-language media reported. The Times of Israel reports this, adding that there is no confirmation from the military.
Macron to Israel: avoid escalation especially in Lebanon
French President Emmanuel Macron called on Israel to avoid an escalation, “particularly in Lebanon”, following an attack blamed on Israel that killed the deputy leader of Hamas in Beirut, the Elysée said. Macron, who spoke by phone with Israeli minister and war cabinet member Benny Gantz, said that “it is essential to avoid any attitude of escalation, especially in Lebanon” and that France will continue to convey these messages to all actors directly or indirectly involved in the area”.
“Israel did not inform the US in advance of the raid on al Arouri”
Israel did not inform the United States in advance of the raid that killed Hamas number two Saleh al-Arouri. Axios reports this, citing some sources, according to which the Biden administration was informed while the attack was underway.
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