Middle East Conflict Escalates with Israeli Strikes

At least 94 Palestinians have died in Israeli custody over less than two years, according to a report by the Israeli human rights group Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI). The report alleges a pattern of 'systematic killings and cover-ups' by Israeli authorities, with deaths caused by physical violence, medical neglect, or both. The majority of deaths occurred in military prisons, with 29 fatalities at Sde Teiman military prison. The report criticizes the policies of Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, stating that detention facilities have been transformed into 'sites of torture and abuse'. The Israel Prison Service and Israel Defense Forces have responded, stating they operate in accordance with the law and international law, and that each death is investigated.

The Lebanese health ministry reported that an Israeli strike near the Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon killed at least 13 people and injured four others. The Israeli military claimed it targeted Hamas members in a training compound, which Hamas denied, stating the site was an open sports field. The strike is part of a larger conflict between Israel and various armed groups in Lebanon, including Hamas and Hezbollah, which has escalated since Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties on both sides and the displacement of over 1.2 million residents in Lebanon.

A 35-year-old Lebanese man, identified as Fadel Z, has gone on trial in Celle, Germany, accused of being a member of Hezbollah and playing a key role in procuring products for the group's drone program. Fadel Z allegedly joined Hezbollah over 10 years ago and became a 'foreign operator' for the drone program in 2022. He is accused of purchasing materials worth €1.4m from companies in Europe, China, and the US, and arranging for their transportation to Lebanon. The trial is expected to last until August next year.

The Kessler twins, German entertainment duo Alice and Ellen Kessler, known for performing with Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra, and Harry Belafonte, died together by assisted suicide at 89 in Grünwald, a suburb of Munich. The twins had a long and successful career, touring worldwide and performing in various stage shows. They were known for their discipline, gratitude, and togetherness, which they credited for their success. The twins had expressed their desire to be buried together in the same urn, along with their mother's and dog's ashes. Assisted suicide is legal in several countries, including Germany, and the Kessler twins' death has sparked a discussion on the topic.

An Israeli airstrike on the Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon killed 13 people and injured several others. The Israeli military claimed it targeted militants in a Hamas training compound within the camp, while Hamas denied this, stating the strike hit an open sports field. The attack was the deadliest on Lebanon since a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war a year ago. The incident has been condemned by Hamas, and the Israeli army stated it would continue to act against Hamas. The strike is part of a larger conflict between Israel and Palestinian factions, with scores of officials from Hezbollah and Palestinian groups killed in Israeli airstrikes over the past two years.

An Israeli airstrike on the Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon killed 13 people and wounded several others. The strike, which hit a car in the parking lot of a mosque, was claimed by Israel to have targeted a Hamas training compound. Hamas denied this, stating that the strike hit a sports playground. The incident is part of a larger conflict between Israel and Hamas, with Israel continuing to carry out airstrikes in Lebanon since a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war last year.