Rescue workers killed in Lebanon as Israeli strikes continue

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TRANSCRIPT
Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank have reportedly set fire to cars and buildings in an attack on Palestinian properties in the town of Beit Furik.
CCTV footage from the front of one resident’s property shows masked settlers setting fire to a building while throwing rocks at a dog on the property.
Wael Hananeh is a resident of Beit Furik and says the Israeli army was protecting the settlers when people attempted to stop them.
“I was notified that the settlers are gathered by the western outskirts of Beit Furik, they were around 15 to 20 settlers who obviously wanted to attack the houses, before attacking these structures (agricultural structures), but they were not able to since the youth all gathered to stop these settlers, they regrouped and became around 40 to 50 settlers, at that time the army’s presence was clear, the army came when we started resisting them and it was clear they (the army) were by their (the settlers’) side, protecting them, shooting towards us, and annoying us.”
Since the October 7 attacks on Israel, settler violence has escalated in the occupied West Bank, prompting international condemnation and even some sanctions on violent settlers.
The Palestinian Health Ministry states that since October 2023, at least 784 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank.
Another resident, Mahmoud, says nothing was left intact.
“I was told that the settlers burned our house, we were in town and came back, when we came back we found the army by the door, they did not let us in, I told them this is my house, so he said ok, wait, we will let you in soon, then they shot sound grenades and dispersed us, a bit later they withdrew and we went in, and we found that they had set fire to a room, and the room for storing fodder and the chicken pen, we put the fire out, and were able to get to the rest of the house in time, they did not leave anything, the electricity pole, and all the belongings, the couches, the water tank, they did not leave a thing.”
In Gaza, health authorities say Israeli strikes have killed at least 37 Palestinians including another journalist, as conditions in the north continue to worsen.
Authorities in Khan Younis say that due to fuel shortages, basic services such as sanitation, waste collection, and transport are no longer in service.
Officials in the area say this will lead to the rapid spread of disease among an already vulnerable population.
UN Secretary General Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric says Israel continues to deny aid agencies and medical staff access to the north.
“The World Health Organization, for its part, tells us that Israeli authorities continue to deny the agency’s request to access the Kamal Adwan and the Al Awda hospitals in North Gaza Governorate. Last week, all three attempts to deploy an international emergency medical team to Kamal Adwan were blocked. WHO is planning missions in the coming days to deploy another team and to deliver medical supplies as well as 10,000 litres of fuel. Our health partners are also planning a two day mission to expand services in Gaza Governorate, meanwhile, OCCHA reports that the ongoing Israeli siege in North Gaza is having a devastating impact on acutely malnourished children.”
In Lebanon, the health ministry says Israel has killed at least six people, including three children, in strikes in the Baalbek district.
The strikes come after Israel killed at least two medics and injured four rescue workers in southern Lebanon, with two remaining missing.
Farah Atwa is a resident in Beirut, the building she lived in with her children was destroyed by Israeli strikes.
“One cannot deny that there are memories in that building, memories of my own children. And I really wish that I can actually take one simple picture of them when they were young. I didn’t take anything outside of this home, because I didn’t expect at all that this will be an Israeli target, not for one second. Yesterday I was here, and today I am here, just to search for anything I could bring out, that can remind me of my children.”
In Israel, the military says Hezbollah rockets have struck a synagogue in Haifa, leaving two civilians injured.
In Tel Aviv, protesters have gathered for the weekly rally demanding the release of the remaining hostages and urging the Israeli government to make a deal.
Ofri Bibas is the sister of a hostage in Gaza and is urging world leaders not to give up on reaching an agreement.
“I call on you, leaders of the world, President Biden and President-elect Trump. Don’t give up on the hostages. Two children, their parents, and 97 other hostages are waiting to be saved, to be brought back home to their families. And to my government I say: Ariel and Kfir are our future, and I cannot imagine what the future will look like if we fail to bring them home.”