Israel Also Airstrikes Hezbollah, the Armed Group in Lebanon
Israel continues airstrikes on the Gaza Strip even after killing Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the Palestinian armed faction Hamas. Expectations for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which arose following Sinwar's death, are now wavering.
According to foreign media including the AP and CNN on the 20th (local time), the Gaza Strip's Ministry of Health reported that at least 87 people were killed or went missing and more than 40 were injured due to Israeli military attacks on areas such as Beit Lahia in northern Gaza the previous day. The Ministry of Health stated in a release that rescue teams cannot reach victims trapped under debris and on roads due to communication disruptions and ongoing Israeli military operations in the vicinity.
Israel is continuing its attacks by deploying additional troops to Jabaliya in northern Gaza, while Hamas claimed to have attacked Israeli tanks and armored vehicles with missiles. At least 33 people died in the Jabaliya refugee camp, and more than 50 lost their lives in residential areas in central Zawayda and the Maghazi refugee camp.
Tor Wennesland, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that "horrific scenes are unfolding amid relentless Israeli attacks and a worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip," condemning the ongoing attacks on civilians. Anna Hafford, coordinator for M?decins Sans Fronti?res (MSF), pointed out to the AP that "the relentless Israeli military operations and escalating violence witnessed in northern Gaza over the past two weeks are causing horrific consequences."
The Israeli military is distributing leaflets depicting Sinwar's last moments in southern Gaza as part of efforts to persuade Hamas members. The leaflets state, "Anyone who lays down their weapons and returns the hostages can leave and live peacefully."
On the same day, Israel attacked Beirut, Lebanon, to cut off funding sources for the Lebanese armed faction Hezbollah. Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a briefing that airstrike operations against Hezbollah would continue and that additional evacuation warnings were issued for some southern suburbs of Beirut. Local Lebanese media reported that 14 airstrikes occurred within minutes in the border village of Khiam.
Hezbollah's counterattacks against Israel are also ongoing. Local media Times of Israel reported that more than 170 rockets were fired from Lebanon into northern Israel on the same day.
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