Lebanon’s former interior minister appears before Beirut port blast investigator

A picture shows a view of the Beirut port, the site of a huge blast which devastated the Lebanese capital three years earlier, on July 22, 2023. (File/AFP)
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Updated 17 April 2025
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Lebanon’s former interior minister appears before Beirut port blast investigator

  • Judge Bitar resumed his investigation earlier this year following prolonged legal and political obstacles

DUBAI: Former Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk appeared before Judge Tarek Bitar on Thursday as part of the ongoing investigation into the 2020 Beirut port explosion.

Machnouk arrived at the judge’s office accompanied by his attorney, Naoum Farah, the National News Agency reported.

The interrogation session began shortly after their arrival, marking a significant step in the judicial probe into one of Lebanon’s most devastating tragedies, which killed over 200 people and injured thousands.

Judge Bitar resumed his investigation earlier this year following prolonged legal and political obstacles.

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Gaza death toll surges to 71,548 as Israeli aggression continues 

Updated 5 sec ago
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Gaza death toll surges to 71,548 as Israeli aggression continues 

  • The administration of President Donald Trump earlier in the week said the US-drafted ceasefire plan for Gaza was now moving into its challenging second phase, which includes the new Palestinian committee in Gaza

GAZA: The death toll from Israeli attacks has risen to 71,548 Palestinians, with 171,353 reported wounded, since the beginning of the offensive on Oct. 7, 2023, according to medical sources. 
One new fatality was reported at a Gaza hospital in the past 24 hours, along with six new injuries, sources said. 
Several victims remain trapped under rubble or lying in the streets, with ambulance and civil defense crews unable to reach them due to the widespread destruction and lack of supplies. 
Since the ceasefire came into effect on Oct. 11, the number of fatalities has increased to 464 along with 1,275 injuries, while 712 bodies have been recovered from beneath the rubble. 
Earlier on Saturday, a 27-day-old baby died because of severe cold, bringing the number of child deaths caused by extreme winter conditions since the start of the season to eight. 
The administration of President Donald Trump earlier in the week said the US-drafted ceasefire plan for Gaza was now moving into its challenging second phase, which includes the new Palestinian committee in Gaza, deployment of an international security force, disarmament of Hamas, and reconstruction of the war-battered territory.
But Israel’s government is objecting to the White House announcement of leaders who will play a role in overseeing the next steps in Gaza.
Israel says the Gaza executive committee “was not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy,” without details.
Saturday’s statement also said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the Foreign Ministry to contact Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The White House-announced committee announced on Friday includes no Israeli official but does include an Israeli businessman. 
Other members announced so far include two of US President Donald Trump’s closest confidants, a former British prime minister, an American general, and a collection of top officials from Middle Eastern governments.
The White House has said the executive committee will carry out the vision of a Trump-led “Board of Peace,” whose members have not yet been named. 
The White House also announced the members of a new Palestinian committee to run Gaza’s day-to-day affairs, with oversight from the executive committee.
The committee’s members include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and Trump’s deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel.