Blinken urges Israeli ceasefire amid continued violence

Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Israel needs to pursue an “enduring strategic success” after its recent tactical victories against Hamas, urging it to seek a ceasefire deal to end the war and bring back dozens of hostages.

He spoke to reporters Wednesday before travelling from Israel to Saudi Arabia on his 11th visit to the region since Hamas’ 7 October attack triggered the war in Gaza. “There’s progress made, which is good, but more progress needs to be made,” he said.

However, there’s no indication that either of the warring parties have modified their demands since the talks stalled over the summer. Hamas has said its demands have not changed following Yahya Sinwar’s death.

Sirens in Tel Aviv and projectiles intercepted near Blinken’s hotel

Shortly before Blinken headed to the airport, air raid sirens rang out across Tel Aviv on Wednesday. The Israeli military said its Iron Dome defence systems intercepted two projectiles fired from Lebanon.

Smoke, apparently from one of the interceptions, could be seen in the sky above the hotel where Blinken was staying. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

Israeli strikes in Lebanon continue

Jets from the Israeli Defence Force struck multiple buildings in Lebanon’s southern coastal city of Tyre on Wednesday.

There were no reports of casualties, after the Israeli military had issued evacuation warnings prior to the strikes.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that an Israeli strike on the nearby town of Maarakeh killed three people.

The Lebanese Health Ministry says 28 people were killed and 139 wounded in the past 24 hours, raising the total toll over the past year of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah to 2,574 killed and 12,001 wounded.

The fighting in Lebanon has driven 1.2 million people from their homes, including more than 400,000 children, according to the U.N. children’s agency UNICEF.

Beirut TV station HQ hit

Israel’s military carried out a strike on an office belonging to a Beirut-based TV station.

Pan-Arab TV channel Al-Mayadeen, which was set up by ex-Al Jazeera journalists and which Israel claims is politically allied with Hezbollah, said its office on the outskirts of Beirut’s southern suburbs was hit.

“Al-Mayadeen holds the Israeli occupation accountable for the attack on a known media office for a known media outlet,” Al-Mayadeen TV said. It added that the office had been evacuated. The Israeli army did not issue a warning before the strike.

On 21 November, an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon killed two Al-Mayadeen journalists who were reporting on military activity along the border with Israel.

WHO pauses vaccine rollout in Gaza

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday said it and other aid agencies had to postpone the third phase of a polio vaccine campaign in the Gaza Strip due to the Israeli campaign in the area.

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The WHO issued a statement saying that the decision was made with UNICEF, the United Nations’ Palestinian aid agency UNRWA, Palestinian officials and others.

“The current conditions, including ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure continue to jeopardize people’s safety and movement in northern Gaza, making it impossible for families to safely bring their children for vaccination, and health workers to operate,” a WHO statement said.

The WHO said this phase of the vaccinations aimed to vaccinate over 119,000 children across northern Gaza.

Blinken urges Israel to end war as he leaves for Saudi Arabia