UNIFIL says Israeli tank fired at peacekeepers watchtower in Lebanon

This picture taken from the southern Lebanese city of Tyre shows smoke billowing after an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of Qlaileh, on Oct. 14, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 16 October 2024
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UNIFIL says Israeli tank fired at peacekeepers watchtower in Lebanon

  • Two cameras were destroyed, and the tower was damaged, the UNIFIL said

CAIRO: The UN mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said its peacekeepers at a position near southern Lebanon’s Kfar Kela observed an Israeli Merkava tank firing at their watchtower on Wednesday morning.
Two cameras were destroyed, and the tower was damaged, the UNIFIL said in its statement.


Gaza’s Rafah crossing with Egypt to open next week, Palestinian official says

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Gaza’s Rafah crossing with Egypt to open next week, Palestinian official says

  • Palestinian technocrat leader backed by Washington to administer the enclave makes announcement
DAVOS: Gaza’s border crossing with Egypt will reopen next week after largely being shut during the Israel-Hamas war, the Palestinian technocrat leader backed by Washington to administer the enclave announced on Thursday.
Ali Shaath made the announcement by video link during an event in Davos hosted ‌by President ‌Donald Trump, who ‌convened ⁠a group of ‌leaders to formally launch a “Board of Peace” initially focused on cementing Gaza’s ceasefire.
A key unfulfilled element of the ceasefire, brokered by Trump in October, has been the reopening of Gaza’s main ⁠gateway to the world to allow the entry ‌and exit of Palestinians.
“I ‍am pleased ‍to announce the Rafah crossing will ‍open next week in both directions. For Palestinians in Gaza, Rafah is more than a gate. It is a lifeline and symbol of opportunity,” Shaath said.
“Opening Rafah signals that Gaza is no ⁠longer closed to the future and to the war,” Shaath said.
There was no immediate comment from Israel, which has controlled the Rafah crossing since 2024.
The ceasefire deal left Israel in control of more than half of Gaza, including the area that abuts the border crossing. Hamas controls the remainder ‌of the enclave.