French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday condemned the "deliberate" targeting of UN peacekeepers by Israel after UN peacekeepers in Lebanon were wounded by Israeli fire for the second day running. Earlier France summoned the Israeli ambassador to discuss the attacks on UN bases, which constitute “serious violations of international law”, France’s foreign ministry said. Read our liveblog to see how all the day's events unfolded.
Summary:
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- French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday condemned the "deliberate" targeting of UN peacekeepers by Israel after two UN peacekeepers in Lebanon were wounded by Israeli fire.
- France summoned the Israeli ambassador to discuss the attacks on three UN bases in south Lebanon, which constitute “serious violations of international law”, France’s foreign ministry said. “The Israeli authorities must explain themselves," the ministry added.
- Israel slammed a UN probe that concluded it was deliberately seeking to destroy the healthcare system in Gaza and abusing Palestinian detainees, branding the findings "outrageous".
- Israel's army said it had killed Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad's top commander for the Nur Shams refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.
- US vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris said on Thursday that de-escalation was needed in the Middle East.
- More than 42,126 Palestinians have been killed and 97,117 wounded in Israel's military offensive in Gaza since October 7, 2023, according to the Gaza health ministry.
Yesterday's key developments:
- At least 22 people were killed and 117 wounded in Israeli air strikes that hit two different areas in central Beirut, Lebanon’s health ministry said.
- The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said Israeli tank fire on its headquarters in the country's south wounded two of its members. The force accused Israel of "repeatedly" hitting its positions.
- An Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced people in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza killed 28 people, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent. The Israeli military said it targeted militants in the compound.
- An Israeli strike hit a road linking Syria and Lebanon as Israel tries to cut off Hezbollah supply routes, said the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
- Syrian state media reported that 'Israeli attacks' hit the Syrian town of Hassian, claiming the target was a "car factory" located in the city's industrial area.
- Members of the UN Security Council, including the US, expressed "concern" at the Israeli parliament's approval of two bills that aim to end the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA)'s activities and privileges in Israel.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)
