War between Israel and Gaza, live | UN agency for Palestinians denies Israeli forces impose humanitarian blockade on aid entry International

Israel warns of risk of escalation of “catastrophic consequences” in Lebanon if Hezbollah attacks continue

Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari has accused Lebanese Shi’ite militia party Hezbollah of bringing them “to the brink of a comprehensive military escalation”, as the Lebanese group has increased the number and intensity of its attacks towards Israel over the past week. “Hezbollah’s growing aggression is bringing us to the brink of a comprehensive escalation, which could have disastrous consequences for Lebanon and the whole region,” Hagari said last night.

The situation is reaching a critical point that makes the international community worry about the start of an open war, so this Monday White House envoy Amos Hochstein is scheduled to arrive in Israel to mediate the conflict and prevent an escalation to all-out war.

French President Emmanuel Macron last week proposed the formation of a group consisting of the United States and Israel to draw up a roadmap to end hostilities; however the Hebrew country rejected it due to differences with the French side.

Since the start of hostilities, the day after the war began in the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah has launched more than 5,000 rockets, anti-tank missiles and explosive drones at Israel. Hagari indicated last night that these had increased in recent days.

Just this morning, Israel intercepted a drone that had entered its airspace near the city of Acre, one of the main population centers in the north; while yesterday Israel bombed four Hezbollah military infrastructures in Chaqra, Taybeh, Mahbib and Kafarkela.

“Hezbollah is risking Lebanon’s future to become a shield for Hamas, a shield for Hamas terrorists who murdered the elderly, raped women, burned children and kidnapped Jews, Muslims and Christians during the October 7 massacre,” he said. “When we say we will never allow an October 7 incident to happen on any of our borders, we mean it.”

The military spokesman promised that Israel would make every effort to protect civilians and allow the safe return of all Israelis to the north of the country, where more than 60,000 residents have been evacuated.

The border between Israel and Lebanon is experiencing its highest tensions since 2006 and heavy gunfire has broken out since October, claiming nearly 500 lives, most of them on the Lebanese side, and in the ranks of Hezbollah, which has confirmed around 315 militia casualties—some in Syria—as well as around 90 civilians. In Israel, 25 people have been killed in the north, ten of them civilians. (EFE)