Diplomats are continuing to work tirelessly to prevent a war between Israel and Lebanon after a rocket attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights left 12 children and teenagers dead. The United States has pledged to defend Israel if it is attacked by Hezbollah from Lebanon, although Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed hope for a diplomatic resolution.
Tensions remain high as Israel’s security cabinet authorized a military response to the attack, while both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant condemned the violence and vowed severe retaliation. Meanwhile, far-right demonstrators in southern Israel protested the detention of nine reservists over allegations of abuse of a detainee from Gaza, further escalating the situation.
The Gaza Health Ministry declared a polio epidemic amid a breakdown in sanitation systems, and Israeli troops recently withdrew from an incursion into Khan Younis, leaving dozens dead and many missing. Western governments are urging their citizens to leave Lebanon as tensions escalate, with attacks and discrimination against Muslims and Palestinians on the rise in the United States.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in thousands of casualties in Gaza and a significant number of deaths in Israel. With tensions remaining high and the potential for further violence looming, the international community is watching closely and urging for a peaceful resolution to prevent further bloodshed.
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