Day 390 of Israel war with Gaza: Israel pounds Gaza, Lebanon as hopes rise of a truce with Hezbollah

By Desmond Nleya
Israeli forces launched more strikes on two towns in Lebanon’s historic Baalbek region, killing at least 19 people, including eight women.
Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati says he hopes a ceasefire deal with Israel will be announced in the coming hours or days as United States’ envoy Amos Hochstein travels to Tel Aviv for talks.
Officials in northern Gaza declare Beit Lahiya a “disaster zone” as relentless Israeli bombardment continues to cause mass civilian casualties. At least 10 Palestinians were killed in the latest attack.
In Gaza, at least 43,163 people have been killed and 101,510 wounded in Israeli attacks since October 7, 2023. An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks and more than 200 were taken captive.
In Lebanon, at least 2,822 people have been killed and 12,937 wounded in Israeli attacks since the war on Gaza began.