The UN Humanitarian Coordinator: Gaza raids are unacceptable and we call for a ceasefire. Gaza is under Israeli bombs and raids for the second consecutive day. On March 19 alone, over 350 people died.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the army to take “strong action” against the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Gaza in response to the group’s refusal to release hostages and its rejection of ceasefire proposals. On March 19, Netanyahu, visiting the Arab Training Center: at a time when we are waging war in Gaza, we are preparing for the possibility of opening another front in the West Bank.
Channel 15 reports that there are: “Instructions for ministers not to conduct interviews regarding the resumption of fighting in Gaza.” The one who did not follow the instructions was the reinstated minister Itamar Ben-Gvir who wrote on social media: “We congratulate the State of Israel, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on the return to intense fighting. As we said in recent months when we resigned: Israel must resume fighting in Gaza, as this is the correct, moral, valuable and fully just step, to destroy Hamas and restore our prisoners: it cannot be accepted by the existence of #Hamas and must be eliminated.”
The families of the prisoners had a different opinion and said in a statement: “We are shocked, angry, concerned about the deliberate destruction of the agreement and that the return to fighting will cost us the lives of 59 prisoners still in Gaza. The statement that the resumption of fighting is aimed at restoring the prisoners is completely misleading, but rather a military pressure that endangers prisoners and soldiers. You should return to the ceasefire immediately, because many lives are at stake.” Anti-government protests begin in Jerusalem.
Hamas has announced that there are indeed prisoners under the rubble. On March 18, at least one hostage was killed, two were wounded in the Israeli air force attack in Gaza. Hamas will continue the confrontation with Israel: “There is no other choice.” Hamas leader to Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed: “Deaths and injuries among Israeli prisoners among the victims of the Occupation’s bombing of Gaza. Hamas accepted the US proposal, I was surprised by the proposal. Netanyahu’s main goal is to get rid of Israeli prisoners. Hamas has implemented all obligations since the beginning of the ceasefire agreement.”
A senior member of Hamas’s political bureau, Ezzat Al-Rashish: “Netanyahu decided to resume the war of extermination to resolve internal crises. Netanyahu’s decision to resume the war is a decision to sacrifice Israel’s prisoners and a death sentence against them. The mediators are required to reveal the facts about Netanyahu’s coup against the ceasefire agreement and hold him accountable for pouring fuel on the fire in Gaza and the region.” “Israel will achieve nothing through war and destruction, just as it was unable to achieve anything through abandoning negotiations.”
Israel Defense Forces warn of the start of military exercises in the Western Galilee region. There will be a lot of traffic of vehicles and security personnel in the area as part of the exercise. There is no fear that a security incident could occur.
The head of the Haridi “Type” party, Avi Maouz, who is the deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, announces: “I will vote against the budget and resign from the post of deputy minister.”
US President Donald Trump: “There are reports that Iran is still sending large amounts of weapons to the Houthis despite the reduction in their support. Iran should immediately stop sending weapons to the Houthis and let them fight on their own. The Houthis will lose in any case, but Iran’s interruption of supplies will make them lose quickly. Gradual damage has been done to the Houthis and the situation will gradually get worse for them. The Houthis will be completely eliminated.”
Lebanese Finance Minister Yassin Jaber stressed the need for international efforts and UN institutions to pressure “Israel” to stop its attacks on Lebanon and allow UNIFIL and the Lebanese army to fully control the southern areas.
In a meeting with UN Resident Coordinator Imran Riza, Jaber sought technical support for automation and digital data management projects. Riza expressed concern about the funding cuts due to US aid cuts, but noted that the UN would launch a new fundraising campaign to support social projects in health and education.
Jaber also met with Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine to discuss the financial needs of public hospitals and international loans and promised continued support for the health sector. Jaber also discussed banking laws and the opening of land registry offices in Mount Lebanon with MP Farid al-Boustani and met with Italian Ambassador Fabrizio Marchesi.
And now a look at the military scenarios updated at 15:30 on March 19.
According to local sources of Al-Mayadeen: The Al-Sham Liberation Headquarters (HTS and allies) entered Lebanon and took houses in the Lebanese city of Hosh al-Sayyid Ali after the ceasefire.
This led to the breaking of the ceasefire, the Lebanese army did not enter the part where the militants of the Al-Sham Liberation Headquarters are present in the Lebanese city of Hosh al-Sayyid Ali but placed themselves near their positions and this raised the ire of the local population. The Syrians detached the Lebanese army which eventually opened fire. Lebanese security forces are operating inside Hay al-Sellum and have arrested 6. According to Lebanese sources, the Syrian attack is related to drug issues and control of the power of the illegal crossing.
Local sources also explain that basically the Lebanese army and the locals are in Hosh Bint Ismail, which is in Lebanon, not in Hosh al-Sayyed Ali, which is in Syria. However, these two villages have always been considered one town and inhabited without restrictions by the Lebanese Shiites until the return of HTS. The Lebanese are there and legally own land and houses that are now confiscated by the Syrians. Until March 18, the Syrians have taken 22 Lebanese hostages, including women and children, from the town of Fadlieh who were released on March 19 after paying a ransom of $13,500. The bodies of other Lebanese beheaded in Syria, after being kidnapped from Lebanon, were abandoned in the border area of Jousi.
The Lebanese army returned the weapons seized from citizens after the Syrian aggression in order to defend themselves from possible further attacks. The Lebanese army in a statement: “Our military units have started implementing security measures in the Hawsh al-Sayyid Ali area of Hermel, including patrols, to maintain security and stability in the border area”.
A UN soldier was injured by a landmine when he entered the Zibqeen Valley. This arena was heavily bombed before and during the war to destroy Hezbollah’s missile infrastructure that was hidden in the dense forests. The UN is present there without an escort from the Lebanese army and on the orders of Israel to inspect the valley. The injured UN soldier is a Finn.
Lebanese Army: An army unit closed illegal crossings: Al-Matlaba in the Qasr-Hermel area and Al-Fatha, Al-Ma’rawiya and Shahit Al-Hujairi in the Al-Qaa Projects area in Baalbek.
Israeli forces fired machine gun fire from the Dahr al-Jamal position, targeting the al-Hadab and Khallet Wardeh areas on the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab.
A civilian was wounded by IDF gunfire in Tal al-Nahas in Kfar Kila, southern Lebanon.
Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson on the 18th evening: “After alarms were activated in the central and southern Negev some time ago, the Air Force intercepted a missile launched from Yemen. The missile was intercepted before entering the country; alarms were activated according to protocols.
Sirens sounded in Dimona and some areas of the Negev for a missile launched from Yemen toward “Israel.” Sirens in action in Beersheba and Nevatim in the Negev.
IDF Spokesperson on March 19: “The IDF attacked a Hamas military facility in the northern Gaza Strip at night, where preparations for a bombing of Israeli territory were discovered. In addition, naval forces attacked in the coastal area of the Gaza Strip. Bombings recorded in: Musabeh area, north of Rafah. Numerous sound projectiles were fired in the Tal Sultan neighborhood, west of Rafah, in conjunction with the shooting by IDF mechanisms stationed along the Philadelphia axis south of Rafah, south of the Strip.
IDF: “Over the past twenty-four hours, army forces have launched a specific and thorough ground operation in the central and southern area of the Gaza Strip with the aim of expanding the area of insurance and creating a buffer zone between the northern and southern Gaza Strip. During the operation, the forces took control and expanded their renewed control over the center of the Natsarim axis. On the other hand, it was decided that the Golani Brigade forces will be stationed in the southern sector and will be ready to work in the Gaza Strip.”
In the West Bank today, the IDF assault continues in Urgenti in the town of Madama, south of Nablus and in Al Ain camp west of Nablus.
Antonio Albanese e Graziella Giangiulio
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