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Palestine
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On the 133rd day of the Israeli aggression on Gaza, significant developments unfolded. Palestinian resistance operations persisted, encompassing rocket launches and ground skirmishes. Abu Ubaida, spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military arm of Hamas, declared that their fighters were successfully engaging the Israeli occupation forces, marking a historic achievement for the Palestinian people.
Meanwhile, the Israeli forces continued to threaten a potential incursion into Rafah, as US President Joe Biden called for a temporary ceasefire to release the civilians caught in the crossfire.
The Al-Quds Brigades, affiliated with the Islamic Jihad Movement, retaliated by launching missiles at Ashkelon and other targets in response to the Zionist aggression against Palestinians.
Simultaneously, the Al-Qassam Brigades reported intense clashes with Israeli forces in Khan Yunis, with ongoing attacks using various munitions to target enemy personnel and vehicles. The situation remains volatile as both sides escalate their military actions in the region.
Losses incurred during the occupation
In a tragic turn of events, the Israeli occupation army reported on Friday morning that one of its soldiers had been killed and another seriously injured in battles in the Gaza Strip. This brings the total number of officers and soldiers announced by the occupation forces to 572 since Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and the war on Gaza began on October 7th, with 241 casualties since the start of the ground operation on the 27th of the same month.
In a concerning development, Minister in the Israeli Military Council, Benny Gantz, issued a threat on Friday to continue the war on Gaza even during the holy month of Ramadan and to expand it to the city of Rafah, located in the south of the Gaza Strip, if Israeli detainees are not returned from Gaza.
Warnings against storming Rafah
International voices have strongly advised against the Israeli occupation launching a ground attack on Rafah, located in the south of the Gaza Strip. French President Emmanuel Macron cautioned that an Israeli assault on Rafah would result in an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe and mark a significant turning point in the conflict. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized that any attack on Rafah would have devastating consequences for the 1.5 million Palestinians residing in the city.
Kiryat Malachi Operation
Turning our attention away from Gaza, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that two Israelis were killed and four others were left in moderate to serious condition following a shooting attack at a bus station north of the city of Kiryat Malachi. In response, the Hamas movement stated that the commando operation in Kiryat Malachi was a natural reaction to the genocidal actions of the occupation army against the Palestinian people, as well as the ongoing crimes committed by terrorist settlers in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
On a different note, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir announced on Friday his intention to expand the policy of allowing Israelis to arm themselves.
Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah issued a stern warning to Israel following the recent attacks on Lebanese civilians in Nabatieh and Al-Sowanah. Nasrallah emphasized that Israel would face consequences for its actions, including the threat of bombing Eilat in retaliation for Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant's aggressive statements towards Beirut.
Nasrallah made it clear that Israel would pay a heavy price for its attacks on civilians, stressing that the targeting of innocent people in southern Lebanon must come to an end. He emphasized that the repercussions would not be limited to military equipment and surveillance devices.
In response to the escalating tensions, Hezbollah carried out strikes on Israeli military sites, including Al-Malikiyah and Ruwaisat Al-Alam in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms. These attacks resulted in direct hits, demonstrating Hezbollah's capability to defend Lebanese territory.
Simultaneously, reports from the Lebanese News Agency indicated that Israeli aircraft had targeted several towns in southern Lebanon, including Aita al-Shaab, Barkat Bint Jbeil, Yater, and Beit Lev. The Israeli army also fired heavy machine-gun shells towards the town of Kafr Kila from the Metulla settlement, near the border with Lebanon.
The situation remains volatile as both sides engage in retaliatory actions, raising concerns about further escalation in the region.
Source: Agencies
