Fierce Rebuke for Netanyahu Following Extensive Bombing in Beirut
The recent bombing in Beirut, carried out by Israel on Friday, has unleashed a new torrent of global criticism aimed at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Many critics argue that he is pushing the Middle East towards a more devastating conflict that threatens to engulf the entire region.
The Israeli offensive allegedly aimed at Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, a political and military organization. Despite reports that Nasrallah survived, the attack resulted in what has been described as “complete carnage,” demolishing multiple buildings and reportedly leaving hundreds feared dead. As of now, the escalation that began on Monday has resulted in over 700 fatalities due to Israeli strikes in Lebanon.
As reported by The New York Times:
Lebanon’s Health Minister, Firass Abiad, confirmed the “total destruction” of four to six residential blocks due to the Israeli strikes. He noted that the casualty count in hospitals remained low because many victims were still buried under debris. “These were residential areas packed with people,” Mr. Abiad stated. “Those inside the buildings are now trapped under the rubble.”
Images and videos displaying huge clouds of smoke and debris quickly spread across social media and news platforms.
Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the United Nations special coordinator for Lebanon, expressed her “deep alarm and profound concern for the potential civilian impact of tonight’s large-scale strikes on Beirut’s densely populated southern suburbs. The city remains enveloped in fear, with a sense of panic widespread. An immediate ceasefire is imperative.”
The bombing is likely to further escalate the ongoing conflict, which has seen nearly a year of intermittent exchanges of fire between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hezbollah. This recent violence follows the Israeli assault on Gaza, which has claimed over 41,000 Palestinian lives.
“For Israel, the survival of Nasrallah might not even matter. It appears they’re after the regional conflict they’ve been pursuing,” commented Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, regarding the attack on Friday.
According to an unnamed Israeli official quoted by NBC News, “Israel anticipates a significant retaliatory strike from Hezbollah” following the bombardment of their command center on Friday.
As Reuters reported:
Israel has targeted the Hezbollah-dominated southern suburbs of Beirut, known as Dahiyeh, four times in the past week, killing at least three top Hezbollah military leaders. However, the attack on Friday was significantly more intense, with multiple explosions rattling windows citywide, reminiscent of the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
In a video shared online, IDF Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari described the strike as “targeted and precise,” aimed at “the heart of Hezbollah’s terror network,” which, he claimed, was strategically located beneath residential areas.
During his address at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, which prompted walkouts by several diplomats, Netanyahu accused Hezbollah of storing rockets in civilian areas, including “schools, hospitals, apartment buildings, and even private homes in Lebanon, thereby endangering their own people.”
In response, Middle East analyst Assal Rad remarked, “Netanyahu is essentially saying there are no civilian spaces in Lebanon, giving Israel the right to destroy everything.”
Jason Hickel, affiliated with several European universities, also raised concerns about Netanyahu’s statements, noting, “He’s basically claiming all homes are military targets. This stance is unequivocally genocidal, and this maniac must be stopped.”
Just hours before the Beirut suburbs were hit, the Democracy in Europe Movement 2025 (DiEM25) strongly denounced “Israel’s relentless bombing of Lebanon, a further reckless escalation in the Middle East by the Benjamin Netanyahu regime, risking more instability in an already volatile region.”
“Israel’s ongoing attacks in Lebanon mark yet another grim chapter in a history of excessive force. The past year’s genocide in Palestine confirms that Israel’s capacity for horrific violence is boundless,” stated DiEM25. “Instead of pursuing a peaceful and fair solution, the Israeli government consistently opts for militarism, often with backing from the European Union and the United States.”
“The international community, including the E.U., must prioritize peace and not facilitate violence,” the group added. “True peace and security in the Middle East will not be achieved through military might but through diplomacy. We are committed to this goal and stand with the Lebanese people and all others affected by this violent escalation.”
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