Israel’s army claims to have dug up a suspected hideout of a Hamas leader. Hamas reports dozens of deaths after Israeli air strikes. All information in the news blog.
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Several deaths after Israeli shelling in Lebanon
4:16 p.m.: Israeli attacks in Lebanon have resulted in several deaths. A woman and her two children were killed in Israeli attacks on the town of Souaneh in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Civil Defense announced in the afternoon. The Israeli Air Force said it carried out “a series of attacks” on targets in Lebanon in the afternoon. It is said that warplanes have launched an extensive wave of attacks on Lebanese territory.
The Al-Manar television station, run by the Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah, reported that one person was also killed in the attacks in the southern town of Adchit. Lebanese security sources say that at least seven people were injured there. The areas around Shehabijeh and Souaneh are also said to have been hit. They are considered Hezbollah strongholds. The region around Iqlim al-Tuffah was also reportedly attacked.
Israeli media had previously reported injuries on the Israeli side (see entry 9:23 a.m.). They also reported power outages in the town in Galilee with around 40,000 inhabitants. The Israeli military had repeatedly reported rocket alarms in the north of the country. Israel’s army also said it had registered numerous rocket launches from Lebanon. The launch sites were then attacked. It was initially unclear who carried out the rocket attacks.
Relatives urge International Criminal Court to prosecute Hamas leaders
4:08 p.m.: Relatives of Hamas hostages have called on the International Criminal Court in The Hague to investigate and issue arrest warrants against the leaders of the terrorist organization Hamas. About a hundred people gathered in front of the court’s headquarters in The Hague. They called for criminal investigations into hostage-taking, violent sexual crimes, torture and murder.
The International Criminal Court prosecutes individuals for suspected war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Israel does not recognize the court. But the Palestinian territories are a contracting state. Therefore, the prosecutor is allowed to investigate.
In contrast, the International Court of Justice, also based in The Hague, is supposed to resolve conflicts between states. This highest UN court recently warned Israel to do everything possible to prevent possible genocide in the Gaza Strip.
Report: US investigates use of white phosphorus bombs by Israel
3:05 p.m.: According to a media report, the USA is investigating a possible use of white phosphorus by the Israeli army (IDF) in Gaza and Lebanon, in which dozens of civilians are said to have died. This is reported by “The Wall Street Journal”, citing US officials. According to this, it was an air strike by the Israeli army on October 31st on Jabilia in which 125 people were killed and an attack in Lebanon in mid-October. The IDF did not want to comment on the report for the time being.
Israel’s army said it attacked a Hamas commander in a tunnel under a high-rise building in the attack on Jabilia. However, according to the report, weapons investigators suspect that the army may have used a 2,000-pound bomb, possibly provided by the United States. The US regularly supplies Israel with weapons that the army uses in Gaza. However, the use of white phosphorus against civilians could constitute a war crime, according to the United Nations.
White phosphorus bombs are used to create smoke clouds, for example to obscure troop movements, mark targets or set fire to bunkers and buildings. However, their use against civilians is prohibited due to their consequences. The bombs contain a mixture of white phosphorus and rubber that sticks to the skin. If you try to wipe it off, the toxic substance will spread even further. The consequences: burns, sometimes down to the bones. The fumes emitted by the phosphorus bombs are also highly toxic. Those affected who inhale them die or suffer from significant organ damage years later.
