Gaza Civil Defense reported Sunday, October 6, that at least 21 people were killed in an Israeli strike on a mosque housing war-displaced people in Deir el-Balah (center of the territory). For its part, the Israeli army explained in a press release that it had “carried out a precise strike on Hamas terrorists who were operating in a command and control center located in a structure that previously served as a mosque”. This new bombardment adds to the staggering death toll in Gaza since the start of the war between Hamas and Israel, estimated at 41,285 dead, according to data communicated on Saturday by the Ministry of Health (controlled by the Islamist organization). Follow our live stream.
France and Israel divided after a statement by Emmanuel Macron. A political crisis broke out on Saturday evening over comments by the French president, who called for “not to supply the weapons of war” to Israel “if we call for a ceasefire”. The message advocating “consistency” did not go over to the Israeli side at all, with the country’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking of a “shame”. Later in the evening, the Elysée published a press release assuring that France “is the unwavering friend of Israel”, while lamenting the words “excessive” of the Israeli leader.
In Lebanon, Hezbollah says it has pushed back the Israeli army to the border. The pro-Iran organization declared that it had countered a “attempt” infiltration of the Israeli army, which has been carrying out raids in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah forces for several days. In a statement, the Lebanese Islamist movement said that “when a force of enemy Israeli soldiers attempted to infiltrate (…) into Blida”his fighters have “targeted with artillery shells and forced to retreat”.
New Israeli strikes south of Beirut. The Lebanese national news agency ANI reported overnight from Saturday to Sunday at least five Israeli strikes targeting the southern suburbs of Beirut and its surroundings, including four “very violent”. In the evening, the Israeli army called for the evacuation of several neighborhoods in this urban area known to be a Hezbollah stronghold. On social networks, images of buildings in flames and a huge ball of fire rising into the air were broadcast by local residents.
Evacuations of Western nationals continue in Lebanon. The United States evacuated around 145 new people from Lebanon on Saturday in two planes bound for Turkey, the American State Department announced, in the face of the intensification of the Israeli offensive against Hezbollah. A total of “600 American citizens” and their immediate families have already been evacuated according to American diplomacy. For their part, the Netherlands will transport around 400 people out of the country at the end of the first evacuation operation. The United Kingdom also organized specific flights for its nationals, allowing more than 250 people to be evacuated.