War in West Asia: Israel rejects truce plan, pushes on with strikes

Israel rejected proposals on Thursday for a ceasefire with Hezbollah, defying calls from allies including the United States for a halt in fighting.

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Israeli warplanes bombarded Lebanon, including a strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut that shook the capital. On its own side of the border, the Israeli army staged an exercise simulating a ground invasion.

“There will be no ceasefire in the north,” Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on X. “We will continue to fight against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation with all our strength until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes.”

The comments dashed hopes for a swift settlement, after Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati had expressed hope that a ceasefire could be reached soon.

Asked about Israel’s rejection of a US-backed Lebanon ceasefire proposal, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told MSNBC: “The world is speaking clearly for virtually all of the key countries in Europe and in the region on the need for the ceasefire.”

Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes seeking safety in the face of the heaviest Israeli bombardment of Lebanon since 2006. World leaders have voiced concern that the conflict - running in parallel to Israel’s war in Gaza - was escalating rapidly.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was striking Hezbollah ‘with full force’ and will not stop until its goals are achieved.

Netanyahu spoke as he landed in New York to attend the annual UN General Assembly (UNGA) meeting.

He said, “Israel’s policy is clear. We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force. And we will not stop until we reach all our goals, chief among them the return of the residents of the north securely to their homes.”

Israel has dramatically escalated strikes in Lebanon this week, saying it is targeting Hezbollah. Israeli leaders have said they are determined to stop more than 11 months of cross-border fire by the militant group into Israel, which has forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of Israelis from communities in the north.

Abbas urges UN to stop war

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged the UN General Assembly on Thursday to stop the war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Palestinian militant Hamas, saying Israel had almost entirely destroyed Gaza and it was no longer fit for life. “This madness cannot continue. The entire world is responsible for what is happening to our people,” he told UNGA.

11 killed in school attack

An Israeli airstrike hit a school sheltering thousands of displaced Palestinians in northern Gaza on Thursday, killing at least 11 people and wounding 22, including women and children, the territory’s Health Ministry said.

The Israeli military confirmed it struck the school in the Jabalia refugee camp, saying it was targeting Hamas militants inside who were planning attacks on Israeli troops. The claim couldn’t be independently confirmed.

Gaza’s Health Ministry didn’t immediately provide a breakdown of how many of the casualties were women and children.

Gaza conflict toll rises to 41,534

Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip has killed at least 41,534 Palestinians and wounded 96,092 since October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, the Palestinian enclave’s health ministry said in a statement. The toll includes 39 deaths in the past 24 hours, the statement added.