Israel drone attack/ Gaza airstrikes/ Netanyahu targeted drone/ Gaza conflict escalation/ Hezbollah attacks Israel/ Hamas leader killed/ Newslooks/ JERUSALEM/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A drone targeted Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s house on Saturday as projectiles from Lebanon bombarded northern Israel. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed over 50 people, escalating the ongoing conflict with Hamas and Hezbollah. Despite the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, tensions remain high, with both sides rejecting ceasefire negotiations.
Israel Conflict Escalates Quick Looks
- Drone Attack on Netanyahu: A drone targeted PM Netanyahu’s home; no casualties reported.
- Lebanon Barrages: Projectiles fired from Lebanon hit northern Israel, killing one man and injuring several others.
- Gaza Strikes: Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed more than 50 people, including women and children.
- Hamas Resistance: Hamas vows to continue fighting after the death of their leader, Yahya Sinwar.
- Hostage Situation: Israel and Hamas remain at a standoff over the release of hostages, with 100 still held in Gaza.
Drone Attack Hits Netanyahu’s House As Gaza Strikes Kill 50
Deep Look
Tensions in the Middle East escalated on Saturday when a drone targeted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s house in Caesarea, though neither he nor his wife were home at the time. The attack occurred as Lebanon fired dozens of projectiles into northern Israel, resulting in one fatality and several injuries. This barrage comes as Israel considers its response to an earlier Iranian attack and continues its offensives against Hamas and Hezbollah militants.
The conflict has further intensified in Gaza, where Israeli forces struck hospitals and residential areas in the northern part of the Palestinian enclave, killing over 50 people, including women and children, within 24 hours. The attacks come in the aftermath of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s death, which has prompted a strong reaction from both Hamas and Iran.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reaffirmed Hamas’s resilience, stating that the group will “stay alive” despite the loss of Sinwar. The mastermind of the deadly October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people, Sinwar’s death was confirmed by a senior Hamas official. Hamas has since rejected Israel’s demands for a ceasefire or the release of hostages until Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza.
In the northern city of Kiryat Ata, Israeli civilians were forced to take cover as sirens blared amid the ongoing missile strikes from Lebanon. Israeli fire services battled fires sparked by the projectiles, adding to the chaos of the day’s events. Meanwhile, Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon, has ramped up its involvement in the conflict, launching guided missiles and drones at Israeli targets. The group’s attacks have been attributed to their leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike in September.
In Gaza, hospitals and residential areas bore the brunt of Israel’s airstrikes. Facilities such as the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahiya and Al-Awda Hospital in Jabaliya were hit by Israeli forces, injuring patients and medical staff. Casualties included dozens of civilians, with over 30 people killed in three separate strikes in Jabaliya, according to health officials.
Israel’s retaliation has not only led to extensive destruction across Gaza but has also displaced nearly 90% of the region’s population, leaving millions without basic resources like food, water, and medicine. As internet networks in northern Gaza went offline, the already strained communication channels deteriorated further.
While Israel continues its ground operations against Hamas and Hezbollah, the death of Sinwar has raised hopes among Israel’s allies that the conflict could soon end. However, Prime Minister Netanyahu, in a speech following Sinwar’s killing, cautioned that “the war is not yet ended.” In contrast, many in Gaza and other war-affected areas expressed hope that Sinwar’s death could mark the beginning of peace negotiations.
Despite the continuing hostilities, families of the hostages held in Gaza urged the Israeli government to leverage Sinwar’s death as a starting point for negotiations to bring their loved ones home. With over 100 hostages still in captivity, the standoff between Israel and Hamas shows no signs of easing.
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