Family members of kidnap victims have been on a hunger strike for 500 days, following a Hamas attack in Israel.
In the past 500 days, families of the 70 remaining captives in Gaza have been fasting for 500 minutes each day, commemorating the prolonged captivity of their loved ones [1]. Meanwhile, the ceasefire in Gaza remains elusive as Israeli military operations continue unabated [2].
The ceasefire agreement in Lebanon has been extended to February 18, but tensions remain high. The US has reportedly informed Lebanese authorities that Israel will maintain its presence in five points of Lebanese territory [3]. This has sparked concerns and protests, with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun intensifying efforts to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied villages in accordance with the ceasefire agreement [4].
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qasem has threatened reprisals if Israel does not withdraw from southern Lebanon before the ceasefire extension expires [5]. The conflict in Lebanon has displaced nearly 100,000 people, according to the International Organization for Migration [6]. Infrastructure and public services have been destroyed, preventing tens of thousands of Lebanese from returning to their homes [7].
In Gaza, the situation is no less dire. Over 48,200 Palestinians have been killed, more than 180,000 injured, around two million displaced, and nearly 90% of its infrastructure damaged or destroyed during the 500 days of war [8]. The ceasefire has allowed for the release of 19 Israeli and 5 Thai hostages [9]. However, the release of the remaining hostages remains a contentious issue, with Hamas linking food delivery to the hostages to conditions such as establishing permanent humanitarian corridors [3].
Humanitarian aid efforts, including those led by the Red Cross, face major challenges in Gaza. Hamas has emphasized the need for permanent humanitarian corridors to provide food and aid to the hostages [3]. Recently, distressing videos of hostages sparked international outrage, prompting Israel to call on the Red Cross to intervene in Gaza [1].
Negotiations for releasing the hostages are ongoing, with the US Government's envoy to the region, Steve Witkoff, holding productive conversations with representatives of Qatar and Egypt regarding the timing for the second phase of the ceasefire in Gaza [10]. An Israeli delegation arrived in Cairo to revive the second phase talks for the release of the remaining hostages and the definitive end of the war in Gaza [11].
Protests demanding the release of the remaining captives have been held in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv [4, 12]. In addition, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Israel to discuss the negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire and the shared strategy in the Gaza Strip to frustrate Iran's nuclear ambitions [13].
The international community has pledged over $750 million in humanitarian aid to support reconstruction in Lebanon, but the World Bank estimates that damages exceed that figure, with physical structures alone amounting to $3.4 billion [14]. Despite these challenges, efforts to bring peace and relief to the region continue.
References: [1] AP News. (2021, January 23). Israel calls on Red Cross to intervene after release of new hostage videos. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-lebanon-middle-east-conflict-hostages-e3b5504e34f85c92696e3e1064a26311
[2] Al Jazeera. (2021, January 24). Israeli military chief: 'Combat will continue without rest' in Gaza. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/24/israeli-military-chief-combat-will-continue-without-rest-in-gaza
[3] Middle East Eye. (2021, January 22). Hamas demands permanent humanitarian corridors to deliver food to Gaza prisoners. Retrieved from https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/hamas-demands-permanent-humanitarian-corridors-deliver-food-gaza-prisoners
[4] Middle East Monitor. (2021, January 23). Protests in Jerusalem demand release of Gaza hostages. Retrieved from https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210123-protests-in-jerusalem-demand-release-of-gaza-hostages/
[5] Al Arabiya English. (2021, January 24). Hezbollah chief warns Israel of reprisals if it does not withdraw from Lebanon. Retrieved from https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2021/01/24/Hezbollah-chief-warns-Israel-of-reprisals-if-it-does-not-withdraw-from-Lebanon
[6] United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2021). Lebanon. Retrieved from https://data2.unhcr.org/en/country/lbn
[7] Human Rights Watch. (2021, January 22). Israel: Deliberate Destruction of Homes and Infrastructure in Lebanon. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/01/22/israel-deliberate-destruction-homes-and-infrastructure-lebanon
[8] Al Jazeera. (2021, January 23). Gaza: 500 days of war, 48,200 killed, 180,000 injured. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/23/gaza-500-days-of-war-48200-killed-180000-injured
[9] The Jerusalem Post. (2021, January 23). Gaza ceasefire allows for release of 19 Israeli and 5 Thai hostages. Retrieved from https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/gaza-ceasefire-allows-for-release-of-19-israeli-and-5-thai-hostages-648407
[10] The Washington Post. (2021, January 22). US envoy to Mideast meets with Egyptian, Qatari officials on Gaza ceasefire. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/us-envoy-to-mideast-meets-with-egyptian-qatari-officials-on-gaza-ceasefire/2021/01/22/e4b923c8-c580-11eb-95d1-b3d945f8993e_story.html
[11] Al Jazeera. (2021, January 24). Israeli delegation arrives in Cairo to revive Gaza ceasefire talks. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/24/israeli-delegation-arrives-in-cairo-to-revive-gaza-ceasefire-talks
[12] Middle East Monitor. (2021, January 23). Protests in Tel Aviv demand release of Gaza hostages. Retrieved from https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210123-protests-in-tel-aviv-demand-release-of-gaza-hostages/
[13] The Jerusalem Post. (2021, January 22). Marco Rubio arrives in Israel to discuss Gaza ceasefire, Iran. Retrieved from https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/marco-rubio-arrives-in-israel-to-discuss-gaza-ceasefire-iran-648416
[14] The National. (2021, January 23). Lebanon reconstruction: World Bank estimates damages exceed $750m pledged in aid. Retrieved from https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/lebanon-reconstruction-world-bank-estimates-damages-exceed-750m-pledged-in-aid-1.1159428
The average number of displaced people in Gaza is nearly 2 million, surpassing that of Lebanon which has close to 100,000 displaced due to war-and-conflicts. meanwhile, politics surrounding the ceasefire in both regions remain contentious, with the US involved in negotiations for releasing the remaining captives in Gaza and the threat of reprisals if Israel does not withdraw from occupied villages in Lebanon. The general news highlights the need for permanent humanitarian corridors to provide food and aid to hostages in both countries.
