Israel Continues Deadly Attack on Lebanon as Cabinet Votes on Ceasefire Agreement

While the Israeli security cabinet meets to discuss a ceasefire offer with Hezbollah, the Israeli army continues to bomb southern Lebanon and the capital Beirut. On Monday, a massive explosion ripped through residential buildings in the southern suburbs of Beirut, following a warning on Israeli social media site X that people should evacuate or face death. Similar Israeli attacks killed at least 31 people in Lebanon in just 24 hours. The ongoing attack came as Lebanon’s foreign minister said he hoped Israeli leaders would accept a ceasefire offer later today. According to the agreement, the Israeli army will withdraw from southern Lebanon within 60 days, while the Lebanese army will be deployed to the border areas where Hezbollah launches rocket attacks on Israel.

In Italy, the European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called for more pressure on extremist members of the Israeli government who do not want a ceasefire.

Josep Borrell: “There can be no excuse for a ceasefire in Lebanon. According to the offer agreement brokered by the United States and France, Israel has all security concerns. There is no excuse for not implementing the ceasefire. “Otherwise, Lebanon will fall apart,” he said.

Josep Borrell also called on EU member states to fulfill the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Gaza. Borrell noted that there was widespread support for a project. ICC An arrest warrant has been issued for Russian President Vladimir Putin due to war crimes committed in Ukraine.

Josep Borrell: “You cannot applaud when the court rules against Putin and remain silent when the court rules against Netanyahu.”

The Syrian government said at least two people were injured and several bridges were damaged in Homs province near the Lebanese border in Israeli airstrikes on Monday. The Israeli military said Iran was targeting arms smuggling routes leading to Hezbollah through Syria.