Israel’s recent assassination of Khalil al-Maqdah in Lebanon has escalated tensions, with senior Fatah official Tawfiq Tirawy accusing Israel of attempting to provoke a full-scale regional war. Tirawy made these remarks in an interview with AFP news agency, where he condemned the killing of al-Maqdah, a prominent figure linked to the Fatah movement and an armed group in the occupied West Bank. Tirawy’s accusation underscores the growing fears of widespread conflict in the region, which has already been deeply affected by the ongoing violence in Gaza.
The Israeli military confirmed that it carried out the airstrike near Sidon, Lebanon, which killed Khalil al-Maqdah. In its statement, the military alleged that al-Maqdah, along with his brother Mounir al-Muqdah, was involved in smuggling weapons into the occupied West Bank. The Israeli authorities claimed that the brothers were acting under the direction of Hezbollah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), both of which have been long-time adversaries of Israel. The military further stated its intent to continue targeting Lebanon-based individuals who they believe are orchestrating terrorist activities in the occupied West Bank.
This airstrike is part of a broader pattern of Israeli military actions in Lebanon that have resulted in significant casualties. During the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Israeli operations in Lebanon have reportedly killed over 600 people, including more than 130 civilians. The increasing number of civilian casualties has heightened fears that the situation could spiral into a larger, more destructive war, as tensions between Israel and various regional actors continue to rise.
In a separate but related development, Israeli banks have recently ceased accepting shekel cash transfers from Palestinian banks in the occupied West Bank. This decision, according to Palestinian officials, could severely impact the ability of Palestinians to pay for essential goods and services. The Palestinian Monetary Authority has warned that without the ability to transfer funds, banks in Palestine will soon be unable to finance trade operations between Palestinian and Israeli merchants. This financial blockade threatens to further destabilize the already fragile economic situation in the occupied territories.
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Israeli Banks Block Shekel Transfers from Palestinian Banks
The refusal of Israeli banks to process these transactions follows a series of measures taken by Israel to exert financial pressure on Palestinians. Israel’s Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who leads a pro-settler party, has previously used his position to enforce financial restrictions on Palestinians. In June, Smotrich signed an order to withhold tens of millions of tax funds owed to the Palestinian Authority, a move that has been widely criticized as exacerbating the economic difficulties faced by Palestinians under occupation.
Ship comes under attack
Meanwhile, a ship operating under a Greek flag was attacked off the coast of Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah. The vessel, identified as “Sounion,” was reportedly struck by multiple unidentified projectiles and is now adrift and on fire. The UK’s Maritime Trade Operations reported that the ship was hit four times, leaving it unable to move. This incident adds to the growing instability in the region, as maritime security near Yemen continues to deteriorate amidst ongoing conflicts.
As these events unfold, the region remains on edge, with concerns that these incidents could lead to an even broader conflict involving multiple countries. The situation is rapidly evolving, and further developments are anticipated as tensions continue to escalate.
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