Lebanon Conflict with Israel-Hezbollah Claims Over 3,000 Lives

Lebanon Conflict with Israel-Hezbollah Claims Over 3,000 Lives \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The prolonged conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has resulted in over 3,000 deaths in Lebanon, with no resolution in sight. Israel has intensified operations across Lebanon, while Hezbollah continues rocket attacks on northern Israel. Meanwhile, Israel has withdrawn support for UNRWA, the main provider of humanitarian aid in Gaza, citing alleged Hamas infiltration, despite warnings from international aid organizations.

Israel-Hezbollah Conflict and Humanitarian Fallout Quick Looks

• Mounting Death Toll: Lebanon’s Health Ministry reports over 3,000 fatalities, with 13,492 injured.
• Border Attacks: Israel conducts operations against Hezbollah, while Hezbollah launches rockets into Israel.
• UNRWA Withdrawal: Israel ends cooperation with UNRWA, impacting Gaza’s aid logistics.
• US Reaction: The US expresses concern over the legislation and Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis.
• Displacement: Conflict has displaced 1.2 million in Lebanon, with 60,000 Israelis uprooted.

Deep Look

The ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah has led to devastating consequences in Lebanon, where the Health Ministry reported on Monday that over 3,000 people have been killed since hostilities began 13 months ago. This death toll far surpasses casualties from the two entities’ last significant conflict nearly two decades ago. Despite rising fatalities and mass displacement, the conflict shows no signs of de-escalation. Israel has announced new operations targeting Hezbollah facilities in Lebanon and Syria, while Hezbollah continues daily rocket attacks into northern Israel, intensifying regional instability.

The current conflict traces back to October 7, 2023, when Hezbollah began rocket strikes on northern Israel, following Hamas’ unexpected attack on Israel, which triggered the ongoing war in Gaza. Hezbollah’s involvement escalated the regional conflict further, bringing Lebanon and Israel into direct confrontation once more. Both Hezbollah and Hamas are allied with Iran, which has provided strategic support.

For nearly a year, the violence had remained confined to the Israel-Lebanon border region, but it surged dramatically on September 23 when Israeli forces launched intense airstrikes across southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as Beirut’s southern suburbs, areas considered Hezbollah strongholds. These strikes left hundreds dead and have forced approximately 1.2 million people to flee their homes, escalating the humanitarian toll.

On October 1, Israeli ground forces entered southern Lebanon in a direct offensive aimed at dismantling Hezbollah’s presence near the border. The ground operations have caused widespread destruction in border villages, though Israeli forces report minimal advancement deeper into Lebanon. Israel claims its strikes have targeted Hezbollah’s command centers, weapons caches, and a network of tunnels used by Hezbollah for operations.

The Lebanese Health Ministry’s latest report states that 16 were killed and 90 wounded in attacks on Sunday, bringing the total death count to 3,002, with at least 13,492 injured. However, the Ministry’s figures do not differentiate between civilian casualties and Hezbollah fighters. Israel, for its part, claims it has killed hundreds of Hezbollah combatants since the onset of hostilities. Inside Israel, Hezbollah attacks have killed 72 people, including 30 Israeli soldiers, and forced the displacement of 60,000 residents from northern regions.

Meanwhile, Israel’s decision to revoke its cooperation with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has sparked new tensions over humanitarian aid in Gaza. On Monday, Israel officially terminated a decades-old agreement that facilitated UNRWA’s operations, accusing the agency of ties to Hamas. The move implements recent legislation aimed at severing ties with UNRWA and restricts its activities within Israel-controlled areas. Israel’s Foreign Ministry criticized UNRWA, stating it “is part of the problem in Gaza and not part of the solution.”

Israel, which controls all entry points into Gaza, has dismissed concerns about potential impacts on humanitarian aid, stating that UNRWA accounts for only 13% of aid flow into Gaza. Officials argue that other UN agencies and aid groups can compensate for any disruption. However, aid organizations emphasize that UNRWA’s logistical expertise and coordination efforts are critical to sustaining humanitarian operations, especially during the ongoing Gaza crisis. Jonathan Fowler, a spokesperson for UNRWA, stated, “Without UNRWA coordination, without UNRWA logistics platforms … no U.N. agency could operate at the scale required.”

The United States has expressed strong opposition to Israel’s new legislation impacting UNRWA. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller conveyed Washington’s concerns on Monday, pointing to an “already insufficient” flow of aid into Gaza. Miller highlighted the severity of Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, which he described as dire even before the legislation passed. “We have serious concerns about the implications of it being fully implemented,” Miller said, cautioning about potential hardships facing Gaza’s population.

Founded to provide assistance to Palestinian refugees, UNRWA plays a significant role in Gaza, where the majority of the population are descendants of refugees displaced during the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict. The agency delivers essential services, including education and healthcare, to nearly six million Palestinian refugees across the region. As the sole provider of such extensive support, UNRWA’s withdrawal could exacerbate already challenging conditions for Gaza’s population.

The broader implications of Israel’s legislative changes, set to take full effect in three months, may further disrupt humanitarian access to Gaza, where aid groups already face numerous logistical and security hurdles. UNRWA has rejected accusations of Hamas influence, asserting that it upholds strict measures to ensure organizational neutrality.

The ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict, coupled with Israel’s severed relationship with UNRWA, underscores the complex layers of political and humanitarian issues unfolding across the region. As both sides brace for potential legal and political challenges amid the election race between Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and Republican nominee Donald Trump, the escalating violence, displacement, and aid restrictions underscore the broader impacts of these conflicts on regional stability and civilian populations.

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