Closing summary
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the pager and walkie-talkie explosion attacks inside Lebanon and Syria. Omer Dostri, spokesperson for Netanyahu’s office, confirmed Israeli responsibility on Monday. The pager attack killed 39 people and injured more than 3,400 others. Israeli media reported that Netanyahu claimed responsibility during a cabinet meeting, telling ministers senior defence officials and political figures were opposed, but that he went ahead with the operation intended to target Hezbollah operatives. Taiwan said it had closed its probe into the explosions, saying no Taiwanese citizens or companies were involved despite the pagers carrying the name of Taiwanese firm Gold Apollo.
Speaking at the joint Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation summit in Riyadh, Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, said that his country was suffering an “unprecedented” crisis that threatens its existence. Speaking before leaders, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said the kingdom renewed “its condemnation and categorical rejection of the genocide committed by Israel against the brotherly Palestinian people, which has claimed the lives of 150,000 martyrs, wounded and missing, most of whom are women and children.”
Iran’s first vice president Mohammad Reza Aref told the summit that the “world is waiting” for Donald Trump’s incoming US government to stop Israel’s wars with Hamas and Hezbollah, as it condemned a wave of Israeli assassinations as “organised terrorism”.
Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed 3,243 people and injured 14,134 since 7 October 2023, the Lebanese health ministry said, adding that 54 Lebanese people had been killed and 56 others injured on Sunday alone.
Israel’s newly appointed foreign minister Gideon Saar said that “certain progress” had been made on ceasefire talks in Lebanon. However, a spokesperson for Hezbollah said they were yet to be directly engaged in talks.
Syria’s main Homs-Damascus highway was temporarily cut off after an Israeli strike targeted an aid gathering centre for displaced Lebanese south of the city of Homs, according to Syria’s state news agency.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s legal team has filed a request to delay the prime minister’s testimony at his corruption trial, saying recent developments in the war have prevented him preparing for the hearing.
Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued forced evacuation orders for residents of many towns/villages in southern Lebanon, saying people there must move north of the Awali river.
The amount of aid reaching Gaza has dropped to the lowest level since December, official Israeli figures show, despite the US having issued a 30-day ultimatum last month threatening sanctions if there was no increase in humanitarian supplies reaching the territory.
Updated
Aid to Gaza falls to lowest level in 11 months despite US ultimatum to Israel
Jason Burke is the International security correspondent of the Guardian
The amount of aid reaching Gaza has dropped to the lowest level since December, official Israeli figures show, despite the US having issued a 30-day ultimatum last month threatening sanctions if there was no increase in humanitarian supplies reaching the territory.
The ultimatum was delivered on 13 October, so will expire on Tuesday or Wednesday. It is unclear what measures Israel’s apparent failure to fulfil US demands will trigger, but they may include a temporary halt to the supply of some munitions or other military assistance.
In an apparent last-minute concession on Monday, Israeli authorities announced an extension of the designated “humanitarian zone”, adding inland areas which could partially relieve intense overcrowding and allow some displaced people to move away from the coast as winter approaches.
However, Israel appears to have ignored most of the demands made in a letter sent jointly by Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, and Lloyd Austin, the defence secretary, on 13 October.
Aid officials in Gaza describe the situation in much of the territory, where more than 80% of the population of 2.3 million have been displaced and more than two-thirds of buildings have been destroyed or damaged in 13 months of war, as “apocalyptic”.
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