Israeli strikes Lebanon Gaza/ Netanyahu Trump talks/ Gaza civilian toll/ Hezbollah conflict/ cease-fire efforts stalled/ Newslooks/ DEIR AL-BALAH/ Gaza Strip/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israeli airstrikes killed dozens in Lebanon and northern Gaza on Sunday, including children, as Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu held talks with President-elect Trump on the escalating conflicts with Hamas and Hezbollah. These deadly strikes come amid stalled cease-fire negotiations and deepening humanitarian crises, with northern Gaza facing severe shortages and potential famine.
Israeli Strikes Kill Dozens in Lebanon, Gaza as Netanyahu and Trump Discuss Conflict Quick Looks
- Israeli strikes in Lebanon: An airstrike north of Beirut killed at least 23 civilians, including children, without prior warning.
- Crisis in northern Gaza: Israeli airstrikes killed 17 civilians in Jabaliya, where food shortages raise fears of famine.
- Cease-fire efforts stall: Mediation attempts by Qatar are paused, while U.S.-brokered talks struggle to make headway.
- Civilian toll grows: Over 43,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza since the conflict began, with most of the region devastated.
Israeli Strikes in Lebanon, N. Gaza Kill Dozens as Netanyahu Talks to Trump
Deep Look
On Sunday, Israeli airstrikes intensified across Lebanon and northern Gaza, killing dozens, including women and children, as cease-fire negotiations continue to falter. Amid escalating violence, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the situation with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, with both leaders citing shared concerns over Iran-backed groups in the region.
Israeli Strikes in Lebanon
An Israeli strike on a residential building in Aalmat, a village north of Beirut, killed at least 23 people, including seven children. The strike, far from Hezbollah strongholds in southern and eastern Lebanon, came without prior evacuation warnings. Israel’s military stated that it was targeting a Hezbollah weapons storage site, though the Lebanese Health Ministry reported only civilian casualties.
Local leaders, including Lebanese legislator Raed Berro, denied that any Hezbollah operatives were present, arguing that the strike hit innocent families. “What is being pulled from under the rubble are women, children, and elderly people who have nothing to do with weapons or rocket warehouses,” Berro said. Neighboring resident Hassan Ghaddaf, slightly wounded during the strike, confirmed that the victims were recently displaced families, including a Lebanese security worker.
In Syria, Israeli forces targeted a building in the Damascus suburb of Sayyida Zeinab, killing seven civilians. Although Syrian state media reported that the strike hit civilians, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights suggested the target may have been Hezbollah operatives. Israel has not commented on the strike in Syria.
Humanitarian Crisis in Northern Gaza
Meanwhile, northern Gaza remains isolated and heavily bombarded. An Israeli airstrike on a Jabaliya camp home killed at least 17 civilians, including nine women, according to Dr. Fadel Naim from Al-Ahly Hospital. In a separate incident, another Israeli strike killed Wael al-Khour, a Hamas government minister, along with his wife and children in Gaza City. Israeli forces stated that they targeted militant sites but did not provide evidence.
The Biden administration has given Israel until mid-November to increase humanitarian access into Gaza or risk potential restrictions on U.S. military aid. Although Israel has allowed limited supplies into Gaza, experts warn that the region is facing imminent famine conditions, particularly in Jabaliya and other northern towns that have been isolated for over a month.
Northern Gaza’s destruction has reached catastrophic levels, with more than 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents displaced. Entire neighborhoods in Gaza City, Jabaliya, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun lie in ruins, and food scarcity is a critical concern.
Escalating Civilian Toll
The conflict in Gaza began after Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and abducting over 250 others. Since then, Israeli retaliations have reportedly killed over 43,000 Palestinians, with Gaza health officials estimating that more than half of the casualties were women and children.
In addition to direct casualties, displacement and humanitarian needs have reached unprecedented levels, with hundreds of thousands now in temporary shelters with minimal resources. Human rights groups have raised concerns about Israel’s tactics, which frequently involve targeting areas with civilians. Israeli officials claim they aim to target militants but accuse Hamas of embedding itself among civilians.
On Sunday, Israel’s military released footage allegedly showing Hamas mistreating detainees. The video, reportedly from 2018-2020, shows detainees in stress positions, some being beaten by guards. Human rights groups have previously accused both Hamas in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank of abusing detainees, with Israel facing similar allegations in the conflict.
International Mediation Efforts Stalled
Amid the escalating violence, international cease-fire negotiations have stalled. The U.S., Qatar, and Egypt have been working to mediate a truce between Israel and Hamas, but their efforts have repeatedly failed. Qatar, a key intermediary, suspended its mediation attempts on Saturday, citing the need for “willingness and seriousness” from both sides to end the conflict.
This development has frustrated many Palestinians in Gaza. “The Arab silence that controls the Arab capitals, that’s because of the fear of the American administration and Israel,” said Akram Jarada, a Gaza resident displaced from his home. With limited diplomatic progress, the humanitarian crisis worsens, and tensions remain high as civilians on both sides face ongoing risks.
The talks between Netanyahu and Trump underscore the alignment between Israeli and U.S. administrations on addressing Iran-backed threats. Israeli President Isaac Herzog is expected to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday, further emphasizing the international implications of the conflict.
As the conflict in Gaza and beyond intensifies, the stakes remain high for all involved, with civilians facing mounting casualties and hardships amidst an ongoing humanitarian crisis.
