Palestine Weekly | September 23–29, 2024 (Days 352–358)

This week, Israel escalated its genocidal actions, inflicting catastrophic damage in Gaza and Lebanon. The killing of Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s leader, by an Israeli airstrike in Beirut marks a significant development that could reshape the region’s resistance to Israeli aggression. As Israel continues its campaign of ethnic cleansing, here is a detailed account of the key events from Days 352 to 358 of the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people.

Day 353 (September 23, 2024): Unprecedented Bombings and Nasrallah’s Assassination

Israel unleashed its most devastating bombing campaign in Lebanon since the 1980s, killing 492 people, including 35 children, and injuring 1,645. The airstrikes targeted southern and eastern Lebanon, particularly in densely populated civilian areas, forcing over 1.5 million people to flee. Schools were repurposed into shelters as the humanitarian crisis escalated. Israel used bunker-buster bombs, which are outlawed under the Geneva Convention when used in populated areas.

In the same raid, Israeli forces assassinated Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s leader for over 30 years, along with several key Hezbollah commanders. The targeted strike on Nasrallah's headquarters in Haret Hreik marks a dangerous turning point, with analysts warning of heightened instability across Lebanon and the broader Middle East.

Hezbollah, supported by Iran, retaliated by launching over 180 rockets at Israeli military bases in Haifa, Tel Aviv, and the occupied West Bank. Israel also issued 80,000+ evacuation orders, pushing for the depopulation of Lebanon's Bekaa Valley.

Meanwhile, in Gaza, Israel’s ongoing genocidal assault continued, killing 24 Palestinians in airstrikes, while reports surfaced of plans to ethnically cleanse northern Gaza by transforming it into a military zone.

Day 354 (September 24, 2024): Worsening Death Toll in Lebanon and Gaza

Following the assassination of Nasrallah, Israeli bombings in Lebanon intensified, with the death toll rising to 569, including 50 children. Over 1,835 people were injured. Hezbollah responded with 220 rockets aimed at Israeli naval bases and military facilities.

In Gaza, Israeli airstrikes claimed the lives of 12 Palestinians and injured 43 others. A strike on two homes in Khan Younis killed seven Palestinians from one family, while settlers in the West Bank continued their violent raids, burning four acres of Palestinian land near Nablus.

Day 355 (September 25, 2024): Decomposed Bodies Returned as Casualties Soar

Israel’s genocidal violence continued, with 53 Palestinians killed in Gaza in the last 24 hours. Israeli airstrikes in Deir al-Balah killed a mother and her four children, while further attacks in Rafah and Khuza’a left five more dead. Hospitals in Gaza, already overwhelmed, received 88 decomposed bodies of Palestinians returned by Israel without identification, marking a gruesome aspect of Israel’s ongoing brutality.

In Lebanon, Israeli bombings claimed 51 more lives, including two UN workers, bringing the death toll in Lebanon to 569 for the week. The bombardments have displaced over 90,000 people, with many forced to seek refuge in neighboring countries.

Day 356 (September 26, 2024): Genocidal Attacks on Gaza and Lebanon

Israel continued its campaign of mass murder, killing 36 Palestinians in Gaza in a single day. An Israeli airstrike on a school shelter in Jabalia killed 15 people, including children, while another strike on a family home killed four family members.

In Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes killed 92 people, including 23 Syrians in Younine. The death toll in Lebanon continues to rise as Israel shows no restraint in its systematic targeting of civilians.

Day 357 (September 27, 2024): Nasrallah Assassination and Hezbollah’s Response

The assassination of Hassan Nasrallah has sent shockwaves across the region. As the leader of Hezbollah for over 30 years, Nasrallah was pivotal in shaping Hezbollah’s resistance against Israel. His death leaves a potential power vacuum within Hezbollah, though analysts believe the group’s military capabilities remain intact. Hezbollah’s Shura Council is expected to name Hashem Safieddine, Nasrallah’s maternal cousin and a prominent figure in the group’s leadership, as his successor.

Nasrallah’s assassination, alongside the killings of other Hezbollah commanders, marks a major escalation in Israel’s genocidal actions. While Israel claims Nasrallah’s death as a victory, experts fear this may lead to wider conflict with Iran, which backs Hezbollah. In response to the assassination, Hezbollah launched five rocket attacks into northern Israel and vowed to continue its operations in defense of Gaza and Lebanon.

Day 358 (September 28, 2024): Unrelenting Airstrikes and Displacement

Israel’s genocidal bombardment of Gaza killed 52 Palestinians and injured 118 others over the past 48 hours. An airstrike on a home in Deir al-Balah killed a mother and child, while strikes on Nuseirat killed two more civilians.

In Lebanon, Israeli bombings displaced over 1 million people, forcing 50,000 to flee into Syria. An airstrike in Tyre killed three people and injured 17, while a deadly attack in Beirut killed 33 people, including 11 medical staff, and left 200 injured.

Analysis of Nasrallah’s Assassination and Its Implications for Hezbollah

The assassination of Hassan Nasrallah by Israeli airstrikes represents a significant moment for Hezbollah and the broader resistance movement in the region. Nasrallah’s leadership over the past three decades made him a central figure in Hezbollah’s military and political strategies, particularly in their fight against Israel. His death raises immediate questions about the future of the group’s leadership and the impact it will have on Hezbollah’s operations in Lebanon and beyond.

While Nasrallah’s death is a symbolic victory for Israel, analysts caution against underestimating Hezbollah’s ability to continue its resistance. Nasrallah’s likely successor, Hashem Safieddine, is poised to take control and is known for his strategic acumen and deep ties within the organization. Hezbollah’s military infrastructure remains intact, and the group has vowed to continue its resistance against Israeli aggression.

The assassination of Nasrallah, along with other Hezbollah commanders, may lead to increased tensions between Israel and Iran, which backs Hezbollah. While Iran is expected to avoid direct confrontation, its support for Hezbollah and other resistance groups in the region remains steadfast. Nasrallah’s death has already sparked a significant response from Hezbollah, with rocket attacks on Israeli military targets, and experts predict further retaliatory actions in the coming weeks.

Despite Israel’s claims of victory, Nasrallah’s assassination is unlikely to weaken Hezbollah in the long term. The group’s deep-rooted connections in Lebanon and its vast military capabilities make it a formidable force, even in the face of leadership changes. However, Israel’s continued escalation of violence risks pushing the region into an even wider conflict, with Lebanon and Gaza bearing the brunt of the suffering.

Key Notes

• Israel’s assassination of Hassan Nasrallah could provoke a broader regional conflict, as Hezbollah prepares for retaliation.
• 492 killed in Israel’s largest bombing campaign in Lebanon since the 1980s.
• Over 1 million Lebanese displaced, and 90,000+ Palestinians in Gaza remain at risk due to ongoing airstrikes.
• Israel continues its genocidal actions in Gaza, killing 52 civilians in two days, including children and families.
• Hezbollah vows retaliation, while Israeli military forces brace for further escalations in the coming weeks.

As we reach Day 358 of Israel’s genocidal assault, the region stands on the brink of a wider conflict. The killing of Hassan Nasrallah, along with the continued bombings in Gaza and Lebanon, has left the people of the region facing unimaginable suffering. The world must recognize Israel’s actions for what they are: war crimes and ethnic cleansing that demand immediate intervention.