Tel Aviv bombing – Hezbollah breaks into Netanyahu’s house

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – New dynamics are still emerging in the Middle East. This was prompted by the war between Israel and the Hamas militia in Gaza, Palestine.

Israel has been bombing the Palestinian coastal area since October 7th even though the world is forcing the Zionist State to stop it. So far, nearly 40 thousand Gazan civilians have been killed.

Several parties predict that this war will spread to other parts of the Middle East. This was due to the moves of Iran that blessed its proxy militias, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, to attack Israel as a form of solidarity with Hamas and Gaza.

The following are the latest developments as reported from various sources, on Monday (19/8/2024):

1. Hezbollah Rains Rockets on Israel

Hezbollah militia attacked Israel, Monday (19/8/2024). This was done in response to last Saturday’s Israeli attack on Lebanese territory.

In its statement, Hezbollah launched 55 rockets towards the city of Ayelet HaShahar in northern Israel.

Hezbollah and Iran vowed revenge against Israel for the assassination of Hezbollah chief of staff, Fuad Shukr, in Beirut, and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran. Although Israel has not claimed responsibility for Haniyeh’s death, the country has a history of targeted killings across the region.

On Friday, Hezbollah released a video showing trucks loaded with rockets going through a network of tunnels thought to be the size of a city. This is the first time Hezbollah has made its long-rumored tunnel network public.

“The enemy [Israel] wants war and always tries to put pressure on us, so we are ready for all possibilities,” the Hezbollah source said.

They said the group’s rocket capabilities were “huge” and that what was shown in the video was only “a small fraction of what Hezbollah has”.

2. Hezbollah drones break into Netanyahu’s house

A Hezbollah surveillance drone has reportedly entered the home of Israeli Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu. Several Israeli media reported that the drone flew into Netanyahu’s private residence in the Caesarea district.

“This case has caused panic and fear among Zionist officials. The drone managed to capture photos of Netanyahu’s residence,” according to a report cited by the Mehr News Agency.

The report said that Israeli military had been sent to the area. However, they did not identify the exact location of the drone.

3. Tel Aviv rocked by bombs

A bomb blast hit the city of Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday (18/8/2024) local evening. This explosion killed one person who was suspected of having carried out the explosion.

Citing the Times of Israel, the suspected perpetrator was seen walking along Lehi Road in South Tel Aviv when the bomb exploded. The man, in his fifties, died immediately after the explosion.

A pedestrian on an electric scooter in his thirties was moderately injured. Paramedics pronounced the man carrying the bomb dead at the scene, and the injured man was taken to hospital.

Speaking to reporters at the scene, the Chief of the Tel Aviv Police District, Peretz Amar, said that the identity of the deceased man was central to the cause.

“It is difficult to identify the body,” said Amar. “We know that he was not an innocent civilian, but someone who was carrying an explosive device.”

At the same time, the armed wing of Hamas claimed responsibility for Sunday night’s bomb attack in Tel Aviv. The group said the operation was carried out together with the Al-Quds Brigade, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

“The Army confirms that the operation of martyrdom in the occupied areas will return to the fore as long as the assassination, displacement of civilians and killing policies continue,” the Qassam Brigades said in a brief statement.

4. The US strongly signals a ‘Critical Point’ for Hamas-Israel Peace

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United States (Menlu) Antony Blinken said that Washington continues to promote diplomatic ceasefire negotiations between Israel and the Hamas militia in Gaza, Palestine. This happened after negotiations continued in Cairo, Egypt, following a meeting in Doha last week.

In his statement, Blinken said he would apply U.S. diplomatic pressure to ensure negotiators get a new breakthrough this weekend. He said his party had presented a bridge proposal last week that moderate countries believed would close the gap between the conflicting parties.

“This is a special moment, maybe the best, maybe the last chance to bring the enemies home, get a break and put everyone on a better path to lasting peace and security, “Blinken told reporters, before his meeting with Israel. President Isaac Herzog, announced ReutersMonday (19/8/2024).

“I am here as part of an intensive diplomatic effort at the direction of President Biden to try to reach this agreement and finally reach an agreement. It’s time for everyone to say yes and not look for reasons to say no. “

The mediating countries, the US, Qatar and Egypt, have so far failed to address the differences of opinion between Hamas and Israel. This continues to give Israel fresh air to continue its attacks on Gaza.

Hours after Blinken’s arrival, Hamas claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was responsible for the ‘failure of mediation efforts’. The group also accused Netanyahu of targeting Israeli hostages in Gaza for the same aggression by Palestinians.

On the other hand, there is more urgency to reach a ceasefire agreement amid fears of escalation across the region in general. Iran threatened to retaliate against Israel after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.

“It’s time to make sure that no one takes steps that could delay this process, so we’re working to make sure there’s no escalation, no promotion,” Blinken said in response to tensions new between Israel and Iran.

5. Colombia suspends coal exports to Israel

The Colombian government has banned the export of coal to Israel, with a decree signed by the country’s president and several ministers coming into effect within five days.

“Colombian coal is being used to make bombs to kill Palestinian children,” President Gustavo Petro said in X.

Colombia, which exports 5 percent of its total coal output to Israel, suspended diplomatic relations with the country in May.

6. Iran opens Voice on Gaza Peace

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said that in recent months, Tehran had used all its diplomatic capabilities to stop Israel’s war in Gaza. They also said they welcomed any “sincere efforts” aimed at establishing a ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave.

He said in a weekly press conference that Iran does not believe that the US is qualified to resume cease-fire talks in Gaza because of Washington’s involvement in the war.

“The US has proven once again that it is not committed to protecting regional peace and security, and instead is committed to Israel’s security,” Kanaani said.

The speaker also said that war has continued in the Palestinian territories due to the lack of action from the international community, especially the UN Security Council.

7. Death tax in Gaza

The Gaza Health Ministry says at least 40,139 Palestinians have been killed and another 92,743 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7.

“The toll includes 40 deaths over the past 24 hours,” according to ministry data.

Nearly two million Palestinians have been displaced and are facing a severe humanitarian crisis as the war enters its 11th month.

(luck/luck)

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