Israel’s war on Gaza updates: New blasts in Lebanon kill 20, wound 450
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- 18 Sep 2024 - 23:59(23:59 GMT)
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Israel and its spy agency Mossad are accused of orchestrating the explosion of thousands of electronic devices that killed and maimed civilians and Hezbollah operatives across Lebanon. Read our explainer here.
For more details on the United Nations General Assembly and its move to overwhelmingly adopt a resolution calling on Israel to end its illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories within a year, see our story here.
And you can always find all our latest coverage of Israel’s war on Gaza here.
- 18 Sep 2024 - 23:55(23:55 GMT)
Here’s what happened today
We’ll be closing this live page soon. Here’s a recap of the day’s main developments:
- Multiple blasts detonated in different parts of Lebanon killed at least 20 people and injured more than 450 others – just a day after simultaneous explosions of pagers used by Hezbollah members killed 12 people and wounded nearly 3,000.
- Israel’s defence minister declared the start of a “new phase” in the Gaza war, saying after months of fighting against Hamas, “the centre of gravity is shifting to the north by diverting resources and forces”.
- The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution calling on Israel to end its illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories within a year.
- Dozens of Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip, the civil defence agency said, including on another school in the Shujayea neighbourhood east of Gaza City.
- Israeli soldiers shot and killed 16-year-old Hani Majdi al-Kari in the Shu’fat refugee camp, in occupied East Jerusalem, when special forces raided the camp.
- 18 Sep 2024 - 23:40(23:40 GMT)
‘Israel is ready for war’: Troops drawn from Gaza to northern border
While the daily fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has escalated on several occasions, the bitter enemies have been careful to avoid an all-out war.
That appears to be changing – especially after pagers, walkie-talkies, solar equipment and other devices exploded in Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday, killing at least 20 and wounding thousands in a sophisticated attack Hezbollah blamed on Israel.
“You don’t do something like that, hit thousands of people, and think war is not coming,” said retired Israeli Brigadier-General Amir Avivi, who leads Israel Defence and Security Forum, a group of hawkish former military commanders.
“Why didn’t we do it for 11 months? Because we were not willing to go to war yet. What’s happening now? Israel is ready for war.”
The military also said it staged a series of war drills this week along the border. “The mission is clear,” said Major-General Ori Gordin, who heads Israel’s Northern Command. “We are determined to change the security reality as soon as possible.”
- 18 Sep 2024 - 23:25(23:25 GMT)
‘Indiscriminate’ nature of explosions has Lebanese people on edge
David Wood, senior Lebanon analyst with the International Crisis Group, says no one could have expected Tuesday’s deadly blasts would be followed up with even more killings through rigged electronic devices.
“For it to happen a second day in a row, this time with different devices, was something incredibly surprising. The reaction here in Lebanon has been one of surprise at the wide-ranging nature of the attacks, and also the fact they’re very indiscriminate in terms of where these pagers and walkie-talkies were located,” Wood told Al Jazeera from Beirut.
“They might be owned by Hezbollah, but that is no guarantee the only target that will be struck when they detonate is a Hezbollah member. And indeed, civilians have been wounded and killed, so it’s a really concerning time in Lebanon.”
- 18 Sep 2024 - 23:10(23:10 GMT)
Five killed in Israeli attack on home in Gaza City
Several others have been wounded in the air strike, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reports, citing medical sources.
The attack struck a residential home in northern Gaza City’s Sabra neighbourhood.
Since October 2023, at least 41,272 people have been killed and 95,551 wounded – mostly children and women – in Israel’s war on Gaza.
- 18 Sep 2024 - 22:55(22:55 GMT)
More devices exploding across Lebanon: What’s happening?
One day after thousands of pagers exploded across Lebanon, more explosions of electronic devices, including walkie-talkies, laptops and radios, killed at least 20 people and injured 450.
On Tuesday, the detonation of pagers belonging to Hezbollah members allegedly preloaded with explosives killed 12 people and wounded nearly 3,000.
Israel’s long-term strategy is unclear, but the attacks are a notable escalation against Hezbollah and Lebanon. They come after months of a mostly low-intensity conflict between the two foes.
Read the full story here.
- 18 Sep 2024 - 22:40(22:40 GMT)
Hezbollah official says armed group now in a ‘new confrontation’
Hashem Safieddine, head of Hezbollah’s executive council, says the Lebanese group will respond to the mass attacks with “special punishment”.
The group is in a “new confrontation with the enemy” now, Safieddine said.
It remains unclear what will happen next with fears of a wider Middle East war and Israeli leaders pledging to halt nearly a year of Hezbollah attacks in the north in support of the Palestinians, as Israel’s devastating war on Gaza continues.
As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu huddled with top security officials at Israeli military headquarters in Tel Aviv, the country’s army chief, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, said plans have been drawn up for additional action against Hezbollah.
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