UN records sharp escalation in Israeli fire in southern Lebanon, dozens injured in Qalandia raid and UNICEF says 300 Gaza children killed since ceasefire
By Elham Asaad Buaras
London, (The Muslim News): The Israeli army fired 113 projectiles into southern Lebanon on Wednesday, the highest daily total recorded since June 21, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said Thursday, as Israeli forces continued a military raid in the occupied West Bank and UNICEF reported that at least 300 Palestinian children had been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire was announced last October.
Israeli fire intensifies in southern Lebanon
UNIFIL said the situation in southern Lebanon remained fragile despite violence being significantly lower than in previous months.
“While violence remains significantly lower than in previous months, the overall situation remains fragile,” UNIFIL said on X.
UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters that UNIFIL had observed the “sharpest escalation” in military activity since the announcement of a trilateral framework in late June.
“UNIFIL did not detect any projectile launches by Hezbollah during the same period,” Haq said.
The escalation continued on Thursday, when UNIFIL recorded 120 projectiles fired by Israel, already exceeding Wednesday’s full-day figure and marking the highest number observed in a single day since July 21.
UNIFIL said its peacekeepers continued monitoring and reporting developments to the UN Security Council while maintaining contact with the parties to help reduce tensions.
“The commitment to Security Council Resolution 1701, along with dialogue and coordination, remains essential to de-escalation and the restoration of stability in southern Lebanon,” it said.
The latest escalation came as US-brokered talks between Lebanon and Israel continued to discuss mechanisms for implementing the ceasefire agreement.
Haq said the UN had liaison mechanisms involving the Lebanese and Israeli militaries and was coordinating with both sides “to see what can be done to calm the situation down”.
He stressed that there must be no violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Israel has continued military operations in Lebanon since March 2. According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, the attacks have killed 4,333 people and injured 12,250.
Dozens injured in Qalandia raid
The escalation in Lebanon coincided with an Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank that left at least 48 Palestinians injured, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA.
Israeli forces launched the operation in the Qalandia refugee camp and nearby Kafr Aqab, north of occupied East Jerusalem, on Wednesday.
WAFA, citing the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), reported that 35 Palestinians who had been severely beaten were transferred to hospitals, while six others suffering injuries from beatings were treated at the scene.
One person was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet and six suffered tear-gas inhalation, the PRCS said.
The organisation said its ambulance crews had repeatedly been prevented from reaching patients and injured people because of restrictions imposed by the Israeli army, severely hampering access to the camp.
Despite the restrictions, emergency teams managed to evacuate several patients, including people requiring kidney dialysis, to hospitals.
Israeli forces deployed dozens of military vehicles, bulldozers and drones during the operation.
The raid came amid near-daily Israeli military operations across the occupied West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Since Israel launched its war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, Israeli forces and settlers have intensified attacks across the occupied West Bank, killing at least 1,182 Palestinians, injuring around 13,000 and arresting nearly 24,000, according to Palestinian figures.
The attacks have included the demolition of homes and civilian facilities, the burning of mosques, destruction of agricultural land, restrictions preventing farmers from reaching their fields, forced displacement and settlement expansion.
300 Gaza children killed since ceasefire
As violence continued in Lebanon and the occupied West Bank, UNICEF warned that children in Gaza remained at severe risk, with at least 300 reportedly killed during the 300 days since the ceasefire was announced last October.
“A ceasefire that leaves an average of one child dead each and every day is failing children,” said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.
“With hundreds more children injured, many severely, children in Gaza are still waiting for the end to the violence they were promised.”
UNICEF said many families had been displaced into roughly one-third of Gaza, where they were living among destroyed buildings, rubble and accumulated waste.
Children continue to face acute malnutrition, disease outbreaks, limited access to clean water and damaged sanitation infrastructure, the agency said.
Recent announcements concerning a possible next phase of the ceasefire, including efforts to end hostilities and expand humanitarian assistance, have raised hopes that conditions could improve.
“This offers new hope and a chance to finally stop children being killed,” Beigbeder said.
“For children in Gaza, the test is simple: Does the killing stop? Does aid reach them at scale? Do hospitals reopen and water flow? Will children return to school safely in September?”
“Children have heard promises before. This time, agreements must translate into action,” he added.
UNICEF urged all parties to comply with international humanitarian and human rights law, including obligations to protect children and ensure access to healthcare, education, food and safe drinking water.
It also called for “safe, rapid and unimpeded” humanitarian access for children and families in need.
[Photo: A view of damage following an Israeli airstrike on the town of Burj al-Shamali, east of the city of Tyre in southern Lebanon, despite an existing ceasefire and ongoing negotiations, on August 6, 2026. Photojournalist: Houssam Shbaro/AA]
