Daily Reports
Hezbollah Ready for Battle Amidst Escalating Conflict
Naim Qassem, Deputy Secretary-General of the Lebanese Hezbollah, has declared the resistance's readiness to confront Israel in an all-out war. In an interview with Al Jazeera, he emphasized that any Israeli expansion in the conflict with Lebanon would be met with significant devastation, destruction, and displacement in Israel. Qassem highlighted that Hezbollah's decision is to support the Gaza Strip and prevent Israel from achieving any victory.
The tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have been ongoing for eight months, fluctuating based on various circumstances and pressures exerted by Israeli settlers on their leadership. Despite these threats, Qassem insisted that Hezbollah's stance to support Gaza remains unwavering until the conflict in Gaza subsides.
Qassem also refuted reports of Hezbollah withdrawing the 'Radwan Forces' from the Israeli border, clarifying that only a fraction of the party's capabilities is being utilized, in line with the current nature of the conflict. He cautioned that any escalation by the Israeli occupation would be met with equal or greater force.
Oxfam Highlights Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
In a separate but related context, Oxfam has raised alarms about the dire sanitary conditions in Al-Mawasi, a region in the southern Gaza Strip. Since the onset of the Israeli offensive on Rafah, Palestinians seeking refuge in the area face appalling conditions with only one toilet available for every 4,000 individuals. Oxfam's statement underscores the inhumane living conditions, noting that the scarcity of clean water forces people to rely on sea water. The NGO pointed out that 1.7 million residents are squeezed into less than a fifth of the Gaza Strip, making humanitarian aid efforts nearly impossible due to continuous Israeli bombardments and blockades.
Compounding the situation, Qatar's mediator emphasized the urgent need for Israel to provide a clear stance on the ceasefire plan proposed by U.S. President Joe Biden. The ambiguity of Israel’s position has left humanitarian agencies in a state of uncertainty. Sally Abi Khalil, Oxfam's Middle East and North Africa director, warned that declaring famine may come too late, highlighting Israel's 'deliberate, illegal, and cruel' obstruction of humanitarian aid.
- Hezbollah has claimed that their military actions have forced over 100,000 Israeli settlers to flee their homes in northern occupied territories, significantly obstructing Israel's military capacity. The organization asserts that their support for Gaza has succeeded in diverting more than a third of the Israeli army's attentions from the Gaza Strip.
- Naim Qassem reiterated that despite losses and sacrifices, which are an inevitable part of any conflict, Hezbollah considers their operations successful in their objectives and is committed to continuing their support for Gaza's resistance against Israeli aggression.
- In response to the humanitarian crisis, Meera, an Oxfam employee now residing in Al-Mawasi, has been relocated seven times since October, commenting on the unbearable and inhumane conditions there. Oxfam's report sheds light on the rising risk of famine in Gaza as humanitarian access becomes increasingly obstructed.
