Israel blames Hezbollah and vows to retaliate forcefully after the attack that left 12 dead on the Golan Heights. Faced with the risk of escalation, several countries are calling for restraint.
Dressed in black, thousands of them took to the streets of Majdal Shams this Sunday to attend the funerals of the children killed the day before by a rocket attack from Lebanon.
In front of the coffins covered with white sheets, some carried the portraits of the victims. In this city located on the annexed Golan Heights, in the north of Israel, a rocket fell on a football field on Saturday, killing at least 12 people.
Hezbollah denies being behind the attack, but Israel claims otherwise.
“Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy in the region, will not be exonerated for this event, despite its ridiculous denials. They fired, and they will pay a heavy price for their actions.” explains Yoav Gallant, Israel’s Defense Minister.
Israel has promised to respond forcefully to the attack. Benjamin Netanyahu, who cut short his visit to Washington because of the attack, received the green light from the Israeli security cabinet on Sunday.
Iran, a supporter of Hezbollah, has warned the Jewish state of the “consequences” of reprisals in Lebanon.
Faced with the risk of regional escalation, several countries are trying to ease tensions.
While the Lebanese government and the European Union are calling for an international investigation, the UN is calling for restraint. For its part, the United States also accuses Hezbollah of this attack, but does not want an escalation.
“We also do not want the conflict to escalate. We do not want it to spread. This has been one of our goals since day one, since October 7. And we will continue to pursue this goal.“, declared Antony Blinken, head of American diplomacy.
In the Gaza Strip, the war continues. On Sunday, an Israeli strike killed at least five people in a displaced persons camp near Khan Younis, in the south of the enclave.
The army has also ordered new evacuations in the center. As here in al-Bureij, where residents have started to leave the city. The IDF says it wants to intervene there.with force“.
Negotiations are continuing in Doha, Qatar, between Israel and Hamas in an attempt to reach a ceasefire agreement after 9 months of war and obtain the release of the hostages.