On Friday, efforts to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah encountered significant setbacks as hostilities continued, with Israel’s airstrikes killing at least 68 individuals in Gaza and targeting Beirut’s southern suburbs.
In Gaza, Israeli forces intensified their operations, with medics reporting that the strikes primarily affected central areas, including Deir Al-Balah, Nuseirat camp, and Al-Zawayda. Fourteen people were reported killed in an airstrike on a school sheltering displaced Palestinians in Nuseirat, while another strike claimed 10 lives in a car in Khan Younis. Israeli tanks also advanced on Gaza's northern and eastern sides, escalating fears of a ground invasion.
The Israeli military claimed it had neutralized senior Hamas operative Izz al-Din Kassab in Khan Younis, asserting he was one of the remaining leaders coordinating with various groups in Gaza. Meanwhile, Hamas’ Al-Aqsa television reported that the group remains opposed to a temporary truce, insisting that any agreement must include the full withdrawal of Israeli troops and a resolution to the ongoing conflict.
Israel also resumed its assault on Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut’s southern suburbs for the first time in nearly a week. This escalation followed Israel's evacuation orders for 10 neighborhoods in the Lebanese capital. Civilians in Beirut expressed frustration, with Hassan Saad denouncing the "brutal war" and Ali Ramadan asserting that Israel’s airstrikes aim to pressure Lebanon in ceasefire discussions.
U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken and Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer discussed potential diplomatic solutions on Friday, according to a statement from the State Department. However, Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati criticized Israel’s “stubbornness,” accusing it of blocking any progress in the negotiations.
The conflict, which reignited after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel, has resulted in a massive humanitarian crisis. Gaza’s health authorities report over 43,000 Palestinian casualties, with large swathes of the enclave reduced to rubble. In Lebanon, the health ministry confirmed at least 2,897 fatalities. Amid the escalating violence, U.N. humanitarian officials warn that the situation in northern Gaza is “apocalyptic,” with the population facing severe threats from disease, famine, and continued violence.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has pledged additional military support to Israel, deploying B-52 bombers, fighter jets, and other assets to the region. Pentagon officials emphasized the move is a strategic adjustment, ensuring the U.S. can protect its personnel and allies amid rising regional tensions.
In Israel, the situation remained tense on Saturday morning as projectiles launched from Lebanon struck central Israel, injuring 19 civilians. The Israeli military confirmed that some projectiles were intercepted, with others landing in populated areas.
As the U.S. presidential election nears, hopes for a ceasefire remain distant, with each side maintaining uncompromising stances on peace terms and humanitarian concerns.