Israel attacks Gaza ‘safe zone’ again, kills six in fresh strikes on Lebanon

The Israeli military hit a ‘safe zone’ in Gaza on Wednesday, killing at least eight Palestinians while striking other areas in the besieged enclave.

The attack targeted the Mawasi area in southern Gaza, with reports stating the Israeli army targeted the home of Abu Taha.

Civil defence crews at the location said dozens of people were inside the home, and that many were trapped under the rubble. According to Al-Jazeera, locals said the attack was the second to target the area today.

Israeli strikes also targeted the Maghazi refugee camp killing at least five, and two others in the Nuseirat camp.

At least 33 Palestinians were killed in the enclave since dawn, various reports state.

The killings come as the UN said on Wednesday that Israel has permitted only a single aid mission to enter the Strip’s north this month, while also targeting shelters where essential supplies were being distributed.

The lack of aid combined with relentless Israeli bombing has worsened the dire state in the north and other parts of Gaza, where there is risk of famine and deteriorating conditions.

Meanwhile, In Lebanon, the health ministry announced on Wednesday that Israel had killed at least six people in a densely populated area south of the capital Beirut.

"The Israeli enemy strike on Aramoun killed six people" and wounded 15 others, the ministry said giving a preliminary toll, adding that "body parts were recovered from the site and their identities are being verified".

These latest attacks follow warnings from Israeli forces advising residents in the Haret Hreik and Ghobeiry areas to evacuate ahead of impending military operations.

Hezbollah announced it fired ballistic missiles at the Israeli army's headquarters in Tel Aviv in the second attack of the day against the same location.

The group said in a statement that it had targeted the site, which houses both the defence ministry and the headquarters of the Israeli military, with Qader-2 missiles.

Israeli officials said they want the freedom to strike Lebanon at any moment as part of their conditions to agree on a ceasefire deal, France’s foreign minister said on Wednesday.

However, several diplomats said that it would be all but impossible to get Hezbollah or Lebanon to accept any proposal that included this demand.

This comes as the UN Security Council condemned Israeli attacks on the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL), with the group calling on all parties to respect the safety of members of the force.

West Bank raids

Late on Wednesday, Israeli forces carried out raids on the occupied West Bank city of Tulkarem.

Israeli forces stormed the suburb of Ezbet Al-Jarad, surrounding homes in the area.

The Palestinian Wafa news agency said two Palestinians were killed in the raid, and another two wounded.

The two individuals killed have been identified as Mamoun Saleh Shraim and Thaer Omar Amara, both 38 years old. According to the report, the Israeli army has taken their bodies. 

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 43,712 Palestinians and wounded 103,258 others since 7 October 2023, plunging the Strip into a deep humanitarian crisis. Israeli attacks have also killed at least 3,365 people in Lebanon and wounded 14,344 in the same time frame.

Since the start of the war on Gaza, Israel has also ramped up attacks and arrests on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.