Pakistan says ‘terror’ attacks in Lebanon ‘manifestation of Israeli adventurism’

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the blasts in Lebanon, saying the “terror attacks” were a “manifestation of Israel’s alarming adventurism in the region, which has endangered regional peace and security”.

“Pakistan reaffirms its support to Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and calls upon the international community to take urgent steps to hold Israel to account on its acts of international terrorism and violations of international law,” ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement.

Hezbollah chief Nasrallah expected to address attacks

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is scheduled to speak at 5pm (14:00 GMT) today. In his highly anticipated speech, he is expected to address the pager and walkie-talkie attacks and how Hezbollah will respond.

Muslim Americans shunning Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris: poll

Angry over the US’s position on Gaza, growing numbers of Arab and Muslim Americans are turning away from Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, a poll by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) shows.

While such voters make up a relatively small percentage of the US populace, they could play an important role in decisive battleground states, such as Michigan, Wisconsin and Arizona.

In Michigan, home to a large Arab-American community, 40 percent of Muslim voters now back the third-party candidate Jill Stein, according to the CAIR poll. Eighteen percent back Republican candidate Donald Trump, while just 12 percent support Harris.

Stein, who is running with the Green Party, also leads Harris among Muslims in Arizona and Wisconsin, the CAIR poll showed.

The trend is a sharp reversal from 2020, when Muslim Americans overwhelmingly supported the Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden, according to exit polls.

Abbas meets Spanish PM Sanchez in Madrid

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has met Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Madrid.

During the meeting, Abbas discussed financial challenges in the Palestinian territories, ways to boost bilateral ties, and his planned visit to the Gaza Strip, according to Wafa news agency. He also thanked Sanchez for Spain’s recognition of Palestinian statehood, which he said was proof of its “commitment” to Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.

“We also appreciate your efforts in the European Union and in international forums and your role in supporting the implementation of the two-state solution,” Abbas told Sanchez during a news press conference.

Sanchez also urged restraint following the explosives attacks in Lebanon.

“Today the risk of escalation has again dangerously increased. President Abbas and I have been talking about it in Lebanon, so we have to make a new and strong call for restraint, for de-escalation, for peaceful coexistence between countries. In short, to peace,” he told reporters.

Spain, whose prime minister was an early critic of Israel’s war on Gaza, formally recognised Palestinian statehood in May.

France’s Macron condemns Lebanon attacks in call with PM Mikati

French President Emmanuel Macron has held a phone conversation with Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati during which he voiced his “condemnation” for the blasts that killed at least 37 people and wounded several thousand, according to a statement quoted by the NNA news agency.

Macron expressed his “solidarity and sympathy with Lebanon in this painful ordeal” and called on all parties to exercise restraint and avoid an escalation. The French president did not make any direct reference to Israel, which is being blamed for but has not claimed responsibility for the attacks.

For his part, Mikati thanked Macron for his “affection and continuous support for Lebanon” and requested “that a firm stance be taken against the Israeli aggression during the Security Council session scheduled for tomorrow at the request of the Lebanese government”.

UN committee says Israel ‘severely’ violating children’s rights

A UN committee has slammed Israel for committing “severe violations” of children’s rights in the occupied Palestinian territory.

It pointed to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a human rights treaty ratified by 196 countries, including Israel, saying the state’s war conduct has violated its terms.

“The committee condemns in the strongest terms the severe violations of rights under the convention in the OPT (occupied Palestinian territories), including the tremendous loss of life as a result of the state party’s military actions,” the four-person committee said in a document.

Since October 7, Israeli military attacks have killed thousands of children in Gaza, and more than 150 in the occupied West Bank.


_{Children write in notebooks by the rubble of destroyed buildings near a tent in Jabalia, northern Gaza}

‘Outrageous’ killing of children in Gaza ‘an extremely dark place in history’

Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed at least 41,272 people, including 11,355 children, according to health officials.

“The outrageous death of children is almost historically unique. This is an extremely dark place in history,” Bragi Gudbrandsson, vice chairperson of the committee, told reporters.

“I don’t think we have seen this before, a violation that is so massive, as we’ve seen in Gaza. These are extremely grave violations that we do not often see,” he said.

In its conclusions, the committee urged Israel to provide urgent assistance to thousands of children maimed or injured by the war, provide support for orphans and allow more medical evacuations from Gaza.

The UN body has no means of enforcing its recommendations although countries generally aim to comply.


_{Palestinians carry their children as they flee after an Israeli strike on a school in Gaza City}

Israel's take on school shootings...

More from Qabatiya

Children are being moved away on buses after about 1,000 pupils were trapped in their schools as Israeli forces stormed the town of Qabatiya near Jenin in the occupied West Bank.

Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim, reporting from Qabatiya, said some of the children said they were scared and hungry.

“One of the children I’ve been speaking to says that the Israeli forces shot towards one of the classrooms, leading some of the children to be scared and to take the corners of the classroom as a way of keeping themselves safe from the Israeli forces,” she said.

Israeli forces hold bodies of 3 killed Palestinians in Qabatiya

As we reported earlier, Israeli forces are conducting a raid into Qabatiya near Jenin in the occupied West Bank, where three Palestinians have been killed.

The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported Israeli forces surrounded a house, climbed onto the roof where the three young men were shot and killed, and then carried the bodies “one by one and threw them from the roof of the house”.



The bodies were then moved by an Israeli army bulldozer and are now held by the Israeli army, it said. The home has since been demolished, Wafa added. Israeli forces are currently besieging four other houses in the area.

Hundreds of students trapped in Qabatiya schools now evacuated

We earlier reported on hundreds of children stuck inside two schools and unable to leave because of the ongoing raid on Qabatiya near Jenin in the occupied West Bank.

Wafa news agency reported 10 buses managed to move the students out of the area. A total of 1,200 children and staff members have been evacuated after being trapped for five hours.

Panic was caused among students at Abu al-Rab and Qabatiya schools during heavy Israeli gunfire while dozens suffered from tear gas inhalation.

Israeli forces bomb vehicle during ongoing raid on Qabatiya

One Palestinian has been critically wounded in the attack, Wafa reports, which has taken place as Israeli forces continue their hours-long incursion into the town in the occupied West Bank. At least three others have been wounded by Israeli gunfire, including a child, the news agency said, quoting local sources.

Earlier, Israeli forces shot and killed three Palestinians, wounded 10 and demolished a home in the area. Soldiers are now besieging four other houses.

Death toll in West Bank’s Qabatiya rises to 5

Two more Palestinians have been killed as Israeli forces continue their hours-long raid on Qabatiya south of Jenin, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reports.

At least one person was killed when Israeli forces bombed a vehicle near a commercial complex in the town, setting it ablaze. Another was shot dead near the entrance of the town.

Two others were also wounded by Israeli gunfire, including a child. Earlier, three Palestinians were killed and at least 10 others injured when Israeli forces stormed Qabatiya, backed by army vehicles, including bulldozers, as well as fighter jets and drones.

Dozens ‘trapped’ inside Qabatiya building amid ongoing Israeli raid

Israeli forces have besieged Qabatiya’s municipality building as they continue their hours-long incursion into the town south of Jenin in the occupied West Bank.

Quoting Mayor Ahmad Zakarneh, Palestinian news agency Wafa said 32 people, including staff members, residents and children, have been trapped inside the building. Zakarneh said a number of middle-school students sought refuge in the building when Israeli forces first stormed the town and fired live ammunition towards two schools.

“We were informed to coordinate our exit at the same time that the [others] students were evacuated from the schools, but we were surprised when the occupation forces stationed in front of the building prevented us from leaving,” Zakarneh said.

“Now, we have been under siege for about eight hours, and we’re hearing heavy gunfire around the building.”

Israeli forces raid more towns across the occupied West Bank

Israeli soldiers have stormed towns near Nablus and Jenin as well as Shu’fat refugee camp in occupied East Jerusalem.

In the town of Yabad, southwest of Jenin, at least two Palestinians have been arrested at their homes. In Tal, a village near Nablus, confrontations broke out after Israeli soldiers opened fire and launched tear gas towards residents.

Hezbollah chief gives speech

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has begun his highly anticipated speech, in which he is expected to address the pager and walkie-talkie attacks and how Hezbollah will respond.

The Hezbollah leader begins his speech by saying that what prompted him to give it were the events of the past two days. Nasrallah says he was planning to present his analysis and report of one-year of fighting on October 7, but what unfolded in the past 48 hours “demanded this message”.

Nasrallah offers condolences

The Hezbollah chief says he will divide his speech into three chapters: the ethical and humanitarian side of the past two days, the facts on the ground, and the general and political stance to be adopted after the recent developments.

He continues by offering his condolences to those who have fallen on the front in southern Lebanon and those who died as a result of the attacks in recent days and wishes speedy recoveries to those who have been injured.

Hezbollah chief thanks Lebanese

Nasrallah also thanks doctors, officials and everyone who helped in the treatment of victims of the attacks, including the people who donated blood. One of the silver linings of the crisis of the past few days is the solidarity and unity experienced across the country, he continues.

Civilians targeted in Israeli attacks, Nasrallah says

Nasrallah says Israel crossed all restrictions and red lines by carrying out the coordinated attacks. He adds that some of the attacks took place in hospitals, pharmacies, marketplaces, commercial shops and even residential homes, private vehicles and public roads where thousands of civilians, including women and children, are present.

‘Criminal intention’

Nasrallah says Israel started its attack by targeting paging devices, knowing that there were more than 4,000 of them in use. When these devices were donated, Israel tried to kill 4,000 people simultaneously as well as those in their vicinity, he charges. The same was repeated on the second day with the aim being to kill thousands of people carrying radio devices, Nasrallah continues.

‘A declaration of war’

Nasrallah calls the attacks “a terrorist act” and a “massacre”. He also says they were an act and a declaration of war against the people of Lebanon and the country’s sovereignty.

Israel ‘wilfully’ intended to kill thousands, Hezbollah chief says

Nasrallah says many of the pagers were out of service, turned off or stored away. He repeats that Israel’s wilful intent was to kill thousands of Lebanese people within minutes.

‘Not jumping to conclusions’

The Hezbollah chief says the group has formed a number of investigation committees examining various scenarios. He says all details will be established without jumping to any conclusions. Nasrallah admits the “unprecedented” attacks were a big security blow.

Attacks did not bring Hezbollah to its knees: Nasrallah

Nasrallah says his group is aware that Israel has a technological edge because it is backed by the US and other tech superpowers. He continues by saying there are ebbs and flows in a war, promising that Hezbollah will brave this challenging moment with its head held high.

“We cannot be broken by this blow, no matter how big or strong it is. And I can assure you faithfully and with confidence, this hard, unprecedented blow did not bring us to our knees – and it will not,” he adds in translated remarks. “These are lessons to learn,” Nasrallah says, promising that Hezbollah will become more robust.

Resistance won’t stop supporting Gaza, Hezbollah chief says

Nasrallah says whatever the consequences and the possibilities, the resistance in Lebanon will not stop supporting Gaza. He also tells Israeli officials they will not be able to return displaced residents of northern Israel back to their homes.

‘The resistance in Lebanon will not stop supporting the resistance in Gaza’

Nasrallah promises that Hezbollah’s operations in southern Lebanon will not come to a halt until the Israeli war on Gaza comes to an end. “The resistance in Lebanon will not stop supporting the resistance in Gaza, the West Bank and all the aggrieved,” he said in translated remarks.

Hezbollah infrastructure ‘not touched’: Nasrallah

Nasrallah says senior Hezbollah officials do not carry the models of pagers that exploded. He also says what happened did not impact the group’s command, control or infrastructure. “I reassure you our infrastructure has not been touched,” he says.

Hezbollah ‘more resolved’ after attacks, Nasrallah says

Nasrallah says the attacks did not shake Hezbollah’s faith, conviction or preparedness. “On the contrary, this turned us more resolved, more robust and more adamant,” he said in translated remarks.

If Israel’s objective was to separate Hezbollah from what is taking place in Gaza, then that’s failed, he said. And if the goal was to drive a wedge among the Lebanese, that was also foiled, Nasrallah added.

A ‘historic opportunity’ for Hezbollah

Nasrallah reiterates the only path to bring calm to the region is for Israel to stop the war on Gaza and the occupied West Bank. He also expresses hope that Israel would try to enter southern Lebanon, saying this will create a “historic opportunity” for Hezbollah. “This will, no doubt, have dire consequences.”

Attacks to meet ‘just punishment’: Nasrallah

The Hezbollah leader continues by saying Israel’s plans to create a buffer zone at the border will be a “trap”. Nasrallah also says in his speech the attacks over the past two days will meet a “just punishment” where Israel “expects it and where it does not”. He adds that the fighting has entered its most sensitive and precise stage.

Israeli fighter jets buzz Lebanon during Nasrallah address

Just as Hassan Nasrallah was speaking, at least two fighter jets circled around where I am in central Beirut, and we heard two very loud sonic booms, when the sound barrier is broken. It was a thunderous noise that actually made people on the street here duck.

We’ve also seen images of the jets launching flares as they left the area. It’s basically a campaign of harassment of Lebanese civilians to make them nervous and scared. There are also sonic booms reported outside of Beirut.

Many people on social media are saying they’ve seen drones as well. This was all timed to coincide with Nasrallah’s speech, in which he said Israel was fully aware that 4,000 communication devices in Lebanon were rigged to explode.

“They wanted to killed 4,000 people at the same time, regardless of civilian casualties in the vicinity,” the Hezbollah leader said.

Hamas welcomes Hezbollah’s continued backing of ‘Palestinian resistance’

Hamas says it appreciates remarks by Hezbollah chief Nasrallah after he reaffirmed “the resistance” in Lebanon will not stop supporting Gaza.

In a televised speech, Nasrallah pledged to keep up Hezbollah’s fight against Israel until its nearly 12-month war on the Gaza Strip ends. The Lebanese group’s leader reiterated the only path to bring calm to the region is for Israel to also halt its assaults on the occupied West Bank.

Hezbollah’s stance “is a blow to Netanyahu and his fascist government”, Hamas said in a statement. Lebanon’s “sacrifices”, it added, will only help the fight towards Palestine’s “liberation”.

UK’s Lammy urges nationals to leave Lebanon amid rising tensions

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, in phone conversations with his Lebanese counterpart, Najib Mikati, has expressed deep concern about rising tensions and civilian casualties in Lebanon.

The secretary said they discussed the need for negotiations to restore stability and security across the border region between Israeli and Lebanon. He also urged British nationals to evacuate Lebanon, citing the region’s rising tensions.

“My message to British nationals in Lebanon is leave while commercial options remain. Tensions are high and the situation could deteriorate rapidly,” he wrote on X.

Delta Air Lines pauses flights between New York and Tel Aviv

Delta Air Lines announced it will suspend flights between New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport and Tel Aviv until December 31 citing the “ongoing conflict” in the Middle East.

The airline said it issued a travel waiver for affected passengers and urged customers to be prepared for further adjustments to its Tel Aviv flight schedule, including additional cancellations on a rolling basis. No further details were provided.

The announcement came amid growing concerns about an escalation of the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.

Death toll in Jabalia attack rises to 7

Gaza’s Civil Defence agency spokesman Mahmoud Basal says the death toll in the Israeli air attack that struck the Azzam family home in northern Gaza’s Jabalia has risen to seven. Basal also said there are “a number of wounded” people without providing an exact figure.

This has so far been the deadliest attack reported in the war-battered enclave today.

‘Enough’ war, says former Israeli minister

Yossi Beilin, Israel’s former justice minister, says terrible things have been done during the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and more war is not the answer.

“I’m all for an end to the war on Gaza. You’re talking to the person who initiated the Oslo process because I thought the Palestinians have the right of self-determination, and that the two-state solution is the only solution for both sides,” he told Al Jazeera.

“I recognise the suffering of the Palestinians as I recognise our own suffering. We are both victims and we have to put an end to it. We are stupid enough to shoot at our own future and continue the ongoing conflict forever. Enough.”

Gaza ceasefire deal unlikely during Biden’s term: Report

US officials now believe a Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is not expected before the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The newspaper cited top-level officials in the White House, State Department and Pentagon without naming them.

Washington has previously said 90 percent of a truce and captive exchange deal had been reached, but “gaps” remained over Israel’s presence in the Philadelphi Corridor on Gaza’s border with Egypt and over Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

It will never happen as long as the US keeps funding and providing diplomatic cover for the genocide.

Israeli rhetoric on Hezbollah ‘shifting’ amid ‘all talk’ accusations

Rest assured the entire security apparatus in Israel watched Hassan Nasrallah’s speech quite closely, as they often do whenever he does have some sort of a televised address.

It’s worth mentioning how Israeli media read into Nasrallah’s speech – saying he has essentially accepted a defeat, he acknowledged this was a “severe blow”, and he’s realising the tides are turning.

This is how the Israelis are looking at it. This is according to anonymous officials in Israel who often want to boast about large achievements and any sort of other plans they have.

However, there are a lot of people in Israel who say the military and politicians alike are “all talk” – meaning all of this could just be a sort of deterrent that Israel is trying to use, and there isn’t some sort of larger plan. But nonetheless, the tides are shifting when it comes to the rhetoric Israeli officials are using.

Israel, Hezbollah trade fire following Nasrallah’s speech

Hezbollah has carried out at least 17 attacks across the border into northern Israel, targeting various military posts. The latest statement by the group claims these attacks will continue, most likely into Friday morning.

On the Israeli side, at least 70 Israeli air strikes have hit various Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon.

While this continues along the border in the south, a much-anticipated speech by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is being viewed here as something that people were expecting more from.

The secretary-general did not lay out a clear vision as to how the group would respond to the so-called act of terrorism carried out by Israel, when electronic devices exploded across Lebanon, injuring thousands of people.

What is clear is that the general population, at least in the capital Beirut, are really looking forward to a way out of this conflict, but Hezbollah is adamant that there is no way out until there is a ceasefire reached in Gaza.