Written by Maayan Lubell and Maya Gebeily
JERUSALEM/BEIRUT – The Israeli military said that Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets and dozens of non-cooperative aircraft in northern Israel on Saturday, killing one person, while one drone was targeted at the home of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to his spokesman.
The volley comes as health officials in the Gaza Strip say Israeli strikes have killed at least 11 people in the Al Maghazi refugee camp in the center of the area, and at least seven people in the Shati camp in Gaza City.
Two patients died at an Indonesian hospital due to a siege that cut off electricity and medical supplies, and a nurse was killed at Kamal Adwan Hospital, they said.
Promises by Israel and its enemies Hamas and Hezbollah to continue fighting in Gaza and Lebanon have dashed hopes that the death of Palestinian terrorist leader Yahya Sinwar could hasten the end of the more than a year-long war in the Middle East.
Hamas leader Sinwar, the mastermind of the attack that triggered the Gaza war on October 7, 2023, was killed by Israeli forces in the Palestinian territory on Wednesday.
Israel also hit Jabalia, the largest refugee camp of the eight in Gaza's history, in what it says is an attempt to stop the reunification of Hamas.
As Israel continues its military offensive on two fronts, Lebanon's health ministry said at least two people were killed in an Israeli strike near the Christian town of Jounieh, north of Beirut, in the first such attack in the area.
The Israeli military was investigating the report of the strike in Jounieh, a police spokesman said. There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed group fighting Israeli forces on Lebanon's southern border and whose top leadership has been hit by Israeli strikes.
'Hold Events'
Separately, the Israeli military said its airstrikes killed a Hezbollah deputy commander in the Bint Jbeil area on Friday and that its forces seized weapons, including anti-tank missiles.
Hezbollah by midday Saturday had claimed 11 attacks on Israeli military targets since midnight, all with multiple rockets. There was no immediate comment about any drone strikes or attacks targeting Netanyahu's home.
In northern Israel, some rockets were intercepted but one hit a residential building, according to police.
One person died and at least nine people were injured in different places, the Israeli ambulance said. Air raids sent people running for shelter.
Netanyahu's spokesman said the prime minister was not near his holiday home in Caesarea and there were no casualties.
A resident of the coastal town told Israel's N12 News that helicopters could be heard above the town before a huge explosion shook the streets.
SPEECH STOPS
Iran-backed Hezbollah has been trading with Israel since the war between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas began in Gaza last October.
About 2,400 people have been killed in Lebanon, most of them last month, according to Lebanon's health ministry, while 59 people were killed in northern Israel and the Golan Heights, according to Israeli authorities.
Hamas-led forces killed about 1,200 people and captured 250 in their attack on October 7, 2023, according to Israeli figures. The Israeli military response left more than 42,500 people dead, Palestinian officials said.
Israel's offensive has displaced most of Gaza's 2.3 million people, maimed tens of thousands, caused widespread starvation and destroyed hospitals and schools.
Western leaders, including US President Joe Biden, said Sinwar's death offers an opportunity for a deal to end the truce in Gaza and the release of the remaining hostages.
Negotiations for a similar deal have been stalled for weeks.
Biden said on Friday that efforts may be made to stop fighting in Lebanon, but it will be more difficult in Gaza.
