Lebanese lives ‘don’t matter as much as Israeli lives’ to Western world
Antony Loewenstein, journalist and author of The Palestine Laboratory, says much of the Western world does not regard “Arab Muslim lives as valuable”.
“I think what we’ve seen in the last 24 hours is reflected on how much of the Western world has responded since October 7, which is that Arab and Palestinian lives or Lebanese lives don’t matter,” he told Al Jazeera from Sydney. “They don’t matter as much as Israeli lives, as Jewish lives.”
Loewenstein added that the administration of US President Joe Biden does not have “the guts” to stop Israel and is “actually supporting” it.
“In some ways, the US sees what Israel is doing is doing the US’s bidding, that there’s been a long desire to take on Hezbollah and Iran militarily,” he said. “And Israel is doing that bidding and America is backing them up.”
Israeli army says it will ‘accelerate offensive actions’ in Lebanon today
The Jerusalem Post has quoted the Israeli army Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi as saying that the military will “accelerate offensive actions today and reinforce all units.”
“We must not give Hezbollah a break,” Halevi said at a situational assessment, according to the newspaper. “We will continue to operate at full strength.” “The current situation requires continued intensive operations across all fronts,” he added.
Hundreds cross into Syria from Lebanon: Report
Some 500 people have crossed from Lebanon to war-torn Syria, a Syrian security official told AFP news agency, fleeing the deadliest Israeli bombardment since Hezbollah and Israel fought a devastating war in 2006.
“Around 500 people crossed the border through the Qusayr and Dabousiya crossings between 4 pm (1300 GMT) and midnight,” Monday, the security official told AFP, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.
“Vehicles were still crossing in the early hours of the morning,” he added.
‘This violence has to stop immediately’: UNICEF
UNICEF has warned that a further escalation in the conflict will “catastrophic” for children in Lebanon, particularly those who have been forced into displacement by Israel’s attacks.
“This violence has to stop immediately or the consequences will be unconscionable,” said Ettie Higgins, the UN agency’s deputy representative to Lebanon.
“Schools are closed today across the country, leaving children at home in fear. Their caregivers are themselves afraid of the uncertainty of the situation.
UN spokesperson says region can’t afford full-scale war
Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, has told Al Jazeera, “It is not too late to go back to diplomacy.” “It’s clear that the people of Lebanon, the people of Israel and of the region cannot afford a full-scale war,” he said.
He added that UN representatives were on the ground to push for a diplomatic solution.
