The UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, has accused Israel of pursuing a goal of “eradicating” the Palestinian population, describing Israel’s actions as a possible genocide. Albanese, who works under the Human Rights Council but does not officially represent the UN, said the intent of these actions appears to be to completely expel Palestinians from lands that are intrinsically linked to their identity and that Israel illegally claims.
Meanwhile, Turkey has expressed strong disapproval of the Israeli parliament’s decision to ban the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which the Jewish state accuses of having ties to Hamas, thus severing all ties with it.
In Iran, the government has announced a budget plan that includes a 200 percent increase in military spending for the coming year, spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani revealed at a press conference.
Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for a drone strike in southern Israel. They said the operation targeted an Israeli industrial zone in the Ashkelon region.
In recent days, over 500,000 people have fled Lebanon to seek refuge in Syria due to Israeli military operations. The Lebanese government has reported that among those fleeing are approximately 160,000 Lebanese and approximately 400,000 Syrians who have returned to their country after living as refugees in Lebanon.
Under the new leadership of Naim Qassem, Hezbollah has declared its intention to continue opposing Israel. A party statement announced his election and stressed its commitment to keeping the resistance alive until victory is achieved.
Qassem, 71 and former deputy secretary general of the Lebanese Shiite movement, was recently appointed as the new leader of Hezbollah.
A senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards officer warned that Israel faces devastating consequences in the coming days and praised the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples' choice of leadership.
Finally, the Gaza Civil Defense reported that an Israeli air strike killed more than 55 people in a residential building in Beit Lahia. According to local authorities, many people may still be trapped under the rubble of the struck building.
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