Hamas Official Killed in Israeli Strike on Lebanese Refugee Camp
An Israeli airstrike targeted a refugee camp in northern Lebanon early Saturday, resulting in the death of Saeed Atallah Ali, a prominent Hamas official, along with his family. The strike occurred in the Beddawi refugee camp, located near the city of Tripoli, according to a statement from Hamas. Saeed Atallah Ali, a member of Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades, was killed alongside his wife, Shaymaa Azzam, and their two daughters, Zeinab and Fatima.
This airstrike is part of ongoing hostilities between Israel and various militant groups following the Israel-Hamas conflict that began in October 2023. Israel has repeatedly carried out strikes targeting Hamas officials in Lebanon, and this marks the first such strike on the Beddawi camp in the current conflict. The targeted attack on Ali and his family further escalates tensions in the region.
Continued Israeli Military Operations in Lebanon
Israel’s military actions are not limited to the Gaza Strip, as its operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon intensify. Since October 2023, Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire almost daily along the border between Lebanon and Israel. The conflict was triggered by a Hamas cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in 1,200 Israeli deaths and saw more than 250 people taken hostage. The attack prompted Israel to declare war on Hamas, with operations spanning Gaza and southern Lebanon.
The death toll from the conflict has been severe. In southern Lebanon alone, over 2,000 people have died since September 2023, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. Israeli forces have also been conducting ground incursions into Lebanon, where nine Israeli soldiers have reportedly been killed.
Heavy Civilian Casualties in Gaza
As the conflict marks its one-year anniversary, Palestinian health officials report that more than 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war. The vast majority of casualties include women and children, raising significant concerns about the humanitarian crisis in the region. Israeli airstrikes continue to target areas throughout Gaza, with strikes this past Saturday killing at least nine more Palestinians, including two children.
One of these strikes targeted the northern town of Beit Hanoun, where five people were killed. Another strike hit the Nuseirat refugee camp, killing four more people. These attacks are part of Israel’s broader strategy to eliminate Hamas’s presence in Gaza, though the militant group is widely accused of using civilian areas as cover for its operations.
Israel Orders Evacuations in Central Gaza
On Saturday, the Israeli military issued new evacuation orders for residents in central Gaza. The evacuation warnings apply to areas along the Netzarim corridor, a critical region that has seen repeated conflicts throughout the war. Palestinians living in refugee camps like Nuseirat and Bureij were told to move to the Muwasi region along Gaza’s coast, which Israel has designated as a humanitarian zone.
Despite the evacuation orders, many Palestinians choose to stay in their homes, citing that nowhere in Gaza feels truly safe from Israeli strikes. Those who flee are often forced into overcrowded refugee camps, adding to the dire humanitarian situation in the territory. The war has displaced more than 2.3 million people, most of whom live in squalid conditions in temporary shelters.
South Korea Evacuates Citizens Amid Escalating Violence
The escalation of the Israel-Hamas war has prompted several nations to evacuate their citizens from the conflict zones. On Saturday, a South Korean military plane evacuated 97 people from Lebanon, including South Korean nationals and their families. The South Korean government has closely monitored the situation as violence intensifies across the Middle East. In addition to Lebanon, approximately 480 South Korean citizens are living in Israel, and 110 are residing in Iran, where tensions also remain high.
President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea instructed military officials to deploy aircraft for evacuations, prioritizing the safety of South Koreans abroad. With the ongoing violence showing no signs of slowing, more countries may follow suit in pulling their citizens out of the conflict-ridden region.
The Israel-Hamas conflict continues to wreak havoc across the Middle East, affecting millions of people. The recent killing of a Hamas official in Lebanon highlights the extent of Israel’s military operations beyond Gaza. With daily violence on the Lebanon-Israel border and continued Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, the humanitarian crisis deepens, and peace remains elusive.
