Tensions rise as air raid sirens disrupt Yom Kippur in Israel amidst escalating Middle East conflicts. Western leaders call for restraint following claims of international law violations.
On October 11, 2024, air raid sirens disrupted Yom Kippur observance in Israel, as hostile aircraft infiltrated central areas, including those near Tel Aviv, highlighting ongoing tensions with Hezbollah and Hamas.
Meanwhile, Western leaders, including President
Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron, condemned Israel's targeting of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon as a serious violation of international law, urging restraint amidst rising regional tensions.
As these tensions escalate, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, at the MED9 Summit in Cyprus, stressed the importance of humanitarian aid to Gaza and promoted regional stability through a two-state solution, urging European cooperation.
Across the globe in Laos at the East Asia Summit, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed these concerns, emphasizing global diplomacy to prevent Middle East conflicts from escalating, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warning against further regionalization.
In this volatile climate, Hezbollah has warned Israelis to avoid military sites in residential areas in northern Israel, responding to Israeli strikes that have escalated since September, causing significant casualties and displacement.
This escalation has also intensified Israeli strikes in Lebanon, displacing Palestinian refugees and exacerbating a funding crisis for UNRWA, as the agency navigates both political and financial threats following accusations of staff collaboration with Hamas.