Lebanese-Israeli tensions escalate as Gaza receives massive aid shipments

Meanwhile in Gaza, the humanitarian team collecting hundreds of pallets of aid – including baby food and school bags – according to the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that more than 13,000 patients have now been evacuated from the region to receive emergency medical treatment.

Escalating violence in Lebanon

UN peacekeeping with UNIFILE The mission said that although hostilities subsided following the signing of the Framework Agreement in late June, the calm proved fragile.

Violence increased sharply in August, with the mission recording 56 projectiles from the Israeli military on September 1 alonea number that rose to 84 the following day.

No projectile launches by Hezbollah militants – who continue to clash with Israeli forces in southern Lebanon despite a US-brokered ceasefire – have been detected since June 21, Dujarric said.

Peacekeepers continue to record daily Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace, along with airstrikes, ground activities and naval operations.

What is of particular concern, said Dujarric, is “Continuous consolidation and strengthening of Israel’s position” north of the Blue Line, including the construction of new infrastructure and engineering.

Peacekeeping forces do the same observed individuals who appeared to be Israeli civilian personnel carrying out demolition work in support of military operations.

“There is an extensive Israeli military presence north of the Blue Line, and this is a violation of Israel Security Council resolution 1701 and Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Dujarric said.

He repeated the UN call “for the Israel Defense Forces to withdraw from all positions north of the Blue Line, in full compliance with and respect for resolution 1701.”

Despite the tensions, UNIFIL continues its humanitarian coordination workfacilitated 20 humanitarian missions between Monday and Wednesday, 16 of which were in the western sector of the Mission.

The aid push to Gaza continues

In Gaza, a UN team on Wednesday collected hundreds of pallets of supplies from the Kerem Shalom-Karem Abu Salem crossing, Dujarric said, including adult diapers, school bags and food for babies and young children.

Separately, WHO reported that it and its partners had supported the medical evacuation of more than 13,000 patients from Gaza since October 2023, including more than 6,000 children.

However, WHO emphasizes this thousands more still urgently need specialized care not available in the enclave, and called for the reopening of referral pathways in the West Bankincluding to hospitals in East Jerusalem.

UN Special Coordinator and humanitarian chief in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, concluded a three-day visit to Gaza on Thursday, including a visit to the Emirates Field Hospital in Rafah.

The bitter winter is coming again

Throughout his visit, Mr. Alakbarov stressed that point preparation for the rainy season and winter remains a top priorityrequires urgent donor support and the lifting of Israeli restrictions on equipment such as engine oil needed to run facilities including waste processing plants.

Ambulances and medical equipment remain among the items currently prohibited from entering Gaza, Dujarric said, adding that they “must be allowed to enter immediately.”