JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli government confirmed that a drone was launched toward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence on Saturday. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported. This incident follows a vow from Iran’s supreme leader emphasizing that Hamas would persist in its fight against Israel, particularly after the recent killing of the mastermind behind last year’s deadly October 7 attack.
Sirens blared throughout Israel on Saturday morning, alerting residents to incoming fire from Lebanon, including the drone aimed at Netanyahu’s home in Caesarea. According to a spokesperson, both Netanyahu and his wife were away at the time, and no injuries were reported.
Israeli security forces secure a road near the site of the drone launch toward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s house. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Meanwhile, escalating violence in Gaza has led to the deaths of over 50 individuals, including children, in a series of Israeli strikes executed in less than 24 hours, according to local hospital officials and an Associated Press reporter.
Barrages from Lebanon Target Northern Israel
Alongside the drone incident, Israel’s military reported that approximately 55 projectiles were fired from Lebanon into northern Israel in two separate barrages on Saturday morning. The attacks resulted in four injuries, including one individual who suffered moderate wounds from falling shrapnel.
Tragically, Israel’s emergency services reported that a 50-year-old man was killed by shrapnel while inside his vehicle in northern Israel. The total number of injured from the strikes remains uncertain.
Israel’s ongoing conflict with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, a Hamas ally backed by Iran, has escalated significantly in recent weeks. Following the death of Hezbollah’s longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli airstrike in late September, Israel deployed ground troops into Lebanon earlier this month.
Israeli forces also reported that they killed Hezbollah’s deputy commander in a strike on the town of Bint Jbeil, asserting that he had overseen attacks against Israel.
In another instance, the Lebanese health ministry stated that an Israeli airstrike targeted a vehicle on a main highway north of Beirut, resulting in two fatalities, though it remains unclear who occupied the vehicle at the time of the strike.
Israeli Strikes Pound Gaza Amid Hostage Negotiations
A tense standoff is ongoing between Israel and Hamas, with both sides appearing resistant to ceasing hostilities following the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar earlier this week. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, acknowledged the loss as significant but asserted that Hamas would endure, having survived the deaths of other leaders before.
Following claims regarding Sinwar’s death, confirmed by a senior Hamas official, the group has reiterated that it will not release hostages unless there is a cease-fire in Gaza and a withdrawal of Israeli troops. Netanyahu stated that military operations would continue until hostages are freed and asserted that Israel would remain in Gaza to prevent Hamas from rearming.
Sinwar was central to orchestrating the 2023 Hamas raid on Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, primarily among civilians, and saw the kidnapping of 250 individuals. In retaliation, Israel’s offensive in Gaza has claimed over 42,000 Palestinian lives, according to local health authorities, with reports indicating that more than half of those killed are women and children.
The airstrikes intensified on Saturday, targeting the upper floors of the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahiya, causing chaos among patients and staff. Strikes also impacted Al-Awda hospital in Jabaliya, resulting in injuries to several medical personnel. Moreover, three homes in Jabaliya were hit overnight Friday, leading to at least 30 fatalities, including many women and children, with around 80 others injured.
In central Gaza, at least 10 individuals, including two children, were killed after a residential strike in Zawayda. Furthermore, a separate attack within the Maghazi refugee camp resulted in the deaths of 11 people from a single family. Associated Press journalists confirmed the casualties at local hospitals.
The relentless attacks caused widespread internet outages in northern Gaza, according to the Palestinian communications company, Paltel.
The ongoing war has devastated large portions of Gaza, displacing approximately 90% of its 2.3 million residents, many of whom now face critical shortages of food, water, medical supplies, and fuel.
Sinwar’s Death: A Potential Turning Point
Sinwar’s killing followed what appeared to be a frontline encounter with Israeli forces on Wednesday, which might potentially alter the dynamics of the Gaza conflict amidst Israel’s ongoing offensive against Hezbollah and airstrikes throughout Lebanon.
Israel has vowed to dismantle Hamas’ political structure in Gaza, and eliminating Sinwar was a strategic priority. However, Netanyahu remarked that “our war is not yet ended” during his address announcing Sinwar’s death.
Despite the military consequences, both Israel’s allies and weary residents of Gaza express hope that Sinwar’s death could open avenues towards ending the ongoing violence. Families of hostages still held in Gaza are urging the Israeli government to leverage this moment to reinitiate negotiations for their safe return. Approximately 100 hostages remain in Gaza, with at least 30 already reported dead.