Chinese aid arrives in Beirut following urgent appeals from the Lebanese government amidst rising tensions with Israel.
In response to urgent appeals for humanitarian aid in Lebanon, approximately 60 metric tons of emergency medical supplies from China arrived in Beirut on Monday, as reported by the Chinese embassy in Lebanon.
This aid arrived as Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, urged for an immediate cease-fire and increased humanitarian support in Lebanon during a meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
Chinese ambassador to Lebanon, Qian Minjian, remarked that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has resulted in significant casualties and displacement in Lebanon. He emphasized China’s strong support for Lebanon’s national sovereignty, security, and dignity, while condemning any indiscriminate attacks on civilians, and expressed hope that the medical supplies would alleviate the pressures on Lebanon’s healthcare system.
At the handover ceremony, Qian was joined by Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad, who expressed gratitude for the assistance. He stated that Lebanon greatly appreciates China’s call for a cease-fire and views the donation as a significant display of support for the country.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that Israeli airstrikes continue to cause civilian casualties and displace more families in Lebanon. The Lebanese Health Ministry indicated that since the onset of Israel’s military actions, the death toll has reached 2,483, with 11,628 injuries, and approximately 1.2 million people have been displaced from their homes.
On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel, marking another attempt to address the conflict before the upcoming presidential election, which could alter US policy.
Efforts to end both the long-standing conflict in Gaza and the subsequent hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah have been largely unsuccessful. During his meeting with Mikati, Aboul Gheit reaffirmed the Arab League’s commitment to supporting Lebanon and called for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon.
He also denounced foreign interference in Lebanon’s affairs, urged an end to indiscriminate violence, and called for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which aims to cease hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. Aboul Gheit emphasized the importance of allowing displaced Lebanese citizens to return to the south without Israeli obstruction and demanded assurances from Israel to halt its assaults on the Lebanese population.
On the ground, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for launching rockets at two Israeli bases near Tel Aviv and one in the vicinity of Haifa on Tuesday morning.
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that the death toll from an Israeli strike near Rafik Hariri University Hospital, the main medical facility in Beirut, had risen to 18.
Rescue operations were ongoing, with responders searching for survivors amidst the debris, as an AFP correspondent noted hearing a cellphone ringing beneath the rubble. Following a night of intensive Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut, Hezbollah announced that it had fired rockets at the Glilot base used by Israel’s military intelligence Unit 8200 and targeted the Nirit area in the suburbs of Tel Aviv.
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