Israel and Hamas committed war crimes, UN says; Hezbollah fires rockets after the death of its commander-in-chief

THE Militant group Hezbollah launched a massive barrage of rockets into Israel on Wednesday to avenge the death of a top commander, a significant escalation as U.S. pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza reached a fever pitch. critical moment and the United Nations has accused both Israel and Hamas of war crimes.

The volley of some 160 missiles launched by Iran-backed Hezbollah constitutes a significant outbreak of violence on Israel's northern front with Lebanon that many observers fear could escalate into a full-blown regional war.

In the south of the Gaza Strip, Hamas has finally delivered its formal response to a ceasefire proposal from Washington – suggesting some “amendments,” a source familiar with the matter told NBC News. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Qatar as the Biden administration considered its response.

Hezbollah retaliation

It was a cannonade from the north that set off the sirens early Wednesday, with what Israel called a “massive attack” by Hezbollah.

The Israel Defense Forces told NBC News that some 160 missiles were fired by the group, with one hitting a factory on Kibbutz Sasa, about 3 miles from the border. Most of the rockets were intercepted or fell in open countryside, and an Israeli plane returned fire at a launcher in Lebanon, the Israeli army said.

Hezbollah's Al-Manar television channel said the blockade was in retaliation for Israel's assassination of one of its commanders, Taleb Sami Abdullah.

Also known as Hajj Abu Taleb, 55, he was the militant group's most senior official killed since the fighting began and was in charge of a unit that oversees parts of the southern border region. He was killed in an Israeli airstrike on what the IDF called a “command and control center” in the town of Joya on Tuesday evening. The attack also killed three other members, the Israeli army said in a statement accompanied by a video of the strike.

Ceasefire talks on hold

The Israeli government has signaled in recent weeks that it may step up its actions in the north, under growing pressure to respond more forcefully to Hezbollah after months of simmering tensions and deadly exchanges.

Hezbollah is backed by Iran and has the largest missile arsenal of any non-state actor in the world, according to arms watchdogs. Many observers consider the conflict with Israel to have the greatest potential for full escalation among these regional tensions.

Aware of this risk, Blinken stayed in the Middle East all week, his eighth visit since the start of the war. On Wednesday, he visited Qatar, a key mediator in the negotiations.

The United States has drawn up a plan to secure a truce and the release of remaining hostages held in the Palestinian enclave. The UN Security Council approved the plan on Monday and Hamas, also backed by Iran, gave its expected response on Tuesday.

A source close to the situation told NBC News that Hamas' response “contained amendments to the Israeli proposal,” including setting a firm timetable for the ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli troops – suggesting it There remained a distance between the parties.

There are also doubts about Israel's commitment to the deal, which have only been fueled by the weekend's deadly rescue operation.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure from right-wing members of his government to reject the US-backed plan, and from hostage families to accept it.

A senior State Department official told NBC News that this week Blinken stepped up pressure on Hamas military leader Yahya Sinwar to accept the deal, adding that Netanyahu confirmed his acceptance during their meeting Monday evening.

The two sides disagree on whether the initial six-week ceasefire should be permanent, as Hamas demands, and whether Israel should completely withdraw from Gaza, the official said. , adding that U.S. officials are trying to bridge this wide gap.

Meanwhile, violence on the ground continues.

UN investigation finds both sides committed war crimes

The independent UN commission's report said that on October 7, Hamas “deliberately killed” civilians, “mistreated” hostages and committed “sexual and gender-based violence” against Israeli and foreign nationals.

“These actions constitute war crimes as well as violations and abuses” of international humanitarian law and human rights law, he said.

He accuses Israel of the same thing, as well as crimes against humanity.

The report states that Israel's “chosen strategy for the use of force” resulted in “an immense number of civilian casualties and widespread destruction” in Gaza.

He demonstrated “an intention to cause maximum damage, disregarding distinction, proportionality and adequate precautions” and an “intentional and direct attack against the civilian population, particularly affecting women and children”, adds- he.

On Wednesday, Israel's embassy to the UN rejected the “heinous and immoral accusations” and accused the commission of “systematic anti-Israeli discrimination” and of only seeing the conflict “through the prism of the Palestinian narrative.” .

Some 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage in that Hamas attack eight months ago, according to Israeli officials, and more than 37,000 people were killed in Israel's attack on Gaza, according to local health officials.