Israeli strikes on Lebanon and Gaza leave dozens dead

Associated Press Jerusalem: Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said an Israeli airstrike hit guesthouses where journalists were staying in southeast Lebanon, killing three media staffers from two different news agencies Friday. Meanwhile, an Israeli attack on the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis left 38 people dead. Several journalists have been killed since a near-daily exchange of fire began along the Lebanon-Israel border on October 8, 2023. Lebanon's health ministry says the total toll over the past year is over 2,500 killed and 12,000 wounded.

The fighting in Lebanon has driven 1.2 million people from their homes, including more than 400,000 children, according to the United Nations children's agency. Israeli strikes have killed much of Hezbollah's top leadership since fighting ramped up in September. Israel's offensive in Gaza has killed over 42,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, who do not differentiate between militants and civilians. The Israel-Hamas war began after Hamas-led militants on October 7, 2023, blew holes in Israel's security fence and stormed in, killing some 1,200 people mostly civilians and abducting 250 others. United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Jordan's Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, on Friday in London, where the Arab leader accused Israel of engaging in ethnic cleansing in Gaza.

Safadi did not mince words Friday when describing Israel's role in the conflicts, saying cease-fire negotiation mediators are trying to get through the nightmare that the region continues to live in. In meeting with Blinken, Jordan's foreign minister alleges Israel is engaging in ethnic cleansing. Palestinians who were killed or injured were taken to the European and Nasser Hospitals. Records from the European hospital obtained by the AP showed at least 15 members from al-Farra family were killed, including 13 children. Gaza Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal posted a video Friday morning of rescuers recovering the bodies of 9 children from the Al-Farra family in Al Manara neighbourhood.

The Israeli attack, which included airstrikes and shelling, according to health officials, targeted several residential buildings in neighborhoods east of Khan Younis Governorate. Six members of the Abdeen family were also killed, according to health officials. An Israeli airstrike in northeast Lebanon has closed another border crossing with neighbouring Syria, Lebanon's state news agency said Friday. The airstrike on the outskirts of the village of Qaa brings the number of border crossings between the two countries that have been struck by Israel's military to three. That leaves three functioning border crossings. London: United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Jordan's Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, on Friday in London, where the Arab leader accused Israel of engaging in ethnic cleansing in Gaza.

The only path to save the region from that is for Israel to stop the aggressions on Gaza, on Lebanon, and stop unilateral illegal measures of the West Bank that is also pushing this situation, Safadi said. We meet at a very, very critical moment, as you mentioned, the humanitarian situation is really difficult when we look at Northern Gaza, where we do see ethnic cleansing taking place, and that has got to stop," he said.