Gaza – Beirut: Europe and the Arabs

Israeli aircraft targeted the Hama Zlaya area in the Western Bekaa Valley, coinciding with a series of raids on southern Lebanon. Israel's Channel 12 reported that the air force had begun bombing Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. Israeli airstrikes also targeted the area between the towns of Ansar and Zrarieh in southern Lebanon, according to the Brussels-based European news network Euronews, which also covered developments in Gaza. Euronews reported that "the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip continues, despite 63 days having passed since the ceasefire came into effect, as the low-pressure system affecting the region has exacerbated the already dire situation."

Sources in Gaza Strip hospitals reported the deaths of six people, including two children, due to the cold weather and building collapses in Gaza City and the northern Gaza Strip since dawn.

Hamas held Israel responsible for the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, accusing it of failing to adhere to the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

Internationally, the US Central Command announced the expansion of its international team at the Gaza Coordination Center, which now includes representatives from approximately 60 countries and partner organizations. In this context, Axios quoted informed sources as saying that Washington has proposed former UN envoy Nikolay Mladenov to represent the peace process in Gaza.

For her part, White House spokeswoman Carolyn Leavitt said that efforts are still underway to recover the body of the last Israeli captive in the Gaza Strip, noting that President Donald Trump's administration is working intensively behind the scenes to move to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement.

In a related development, Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Israel is facing increasing American pressure to bear the cost of removing the massive amount of rubble left by the war in the Gaza Strip. The newspaper added, citing sources, that Israel has agreed in principle to bear these costs, which could reach hundreds of millions of dollars, with the task to be assigned to specialized companies.

According to the UN daily news bulletin, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that heavy rains in Gaza flooded tents, damaged residents' belongings, and increased health risks, including hypothermia in infants and illnesses related to sewage-related rashes. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported in its latest update that UN field teams have established a rapid and coordinated flood alert response system, bringing together UN agencies and NGOs working together to distribute tents, blankets, warm clothing, and dignity kits throughout Gaza.

The statement added that as of earlier on Thursday, these teams had addressed more than 160 flood alerts since the morning and conducted assessments covering more than 16,000 families in various areas.