Middle East: Israel urges evacuations in Lebanon, Gaza

Iran has barred passengers from carrying pagers and walkie-talkies on all flights, the ISNA news agency reported.

The new regulation applies to both cabin and hold luggage, according to a spokesman for the Iranian aviation authority, though passengers are still allowed to take their mobile phones on board.

"The entry of any electronic communication device, except mobile phones, in flight cabins or ... in non-accompanied cargo, has been banned," ISNA cited Jafar Yazerlo from Iran's Civil Aviation Organization as saying.

The decision was made after thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies belonging to the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia exploded in September across Lebanon and Syria.

At least 39 people were killed and around 3,000 were injured, including Iran's ambassador to Lebanon Mojtaba Amani. 

The victims were mostly Hezbollah members and Israel has been blamed for the attack.

Earlier this month, Dubai-based airline Emirates banned pagers and walkie-talkies onboard its planes.

Israel's army said five new areas along its northern border with Lebanonhave been closed to civilians, as its troops battled Hezbollah militants inside the neighboring country.

"Following a situational assessment, the areas of Zarit, Shomera, Shtula, Netua, and Even Menachem in northern Israel will be declared a closed military zone as of 2000 today (1700 GMT)," an army statement said.

The statement added that: "entry to this area is prohibited."

Many areas near the border have been evacuated due to rocket and missile fire from Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Earlier on Saturday, Israel said the Lebanon-based militia fired around 320 missiles and drones into northern Israel.

Most were intercepted by air defense systems, while others fell over open terrain.

Two Israelis suffered minor injuries from shrapnel near the northern city of Acre, Israeli media reported.

The Israeli military said that the Iran-backed militia Hezbollah fired hundreds of projectiles from Lebanon into Israel over Yom Kippur, Judaism's holiest day.

"Throughout the weekend of Yom Kippur, approximately 320 projectiles that were fired by the Hezbollah terrorist organization crossed from Lebanon into Israel," the military said in a statement but gave no details on damage or casualties.

Hezbollah said it struck an army base with missiles to the south of the city of Haifa.

In a separate statement, the Israeli military said two projectiles fired from northern Gaza were targeted at the city of Ashkelon but fell in an unpopulated area.

Markets were closed, flights were grounded and public transport halted across Israel on Saturday as observant Jews fasted and prayed on Yom Kippur, which ended at nightfall.

United Nations peacekeepers are "still on the ground" in Lebanon despite two Israeli attacks this week, Andrea Tenenti, a spokesperson for the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), told DW on Saturday.

UNIFIL said explosions hit its headquarters in Naqoura in southern Lebanon on Friday, injuring two of its troops. Another peacekeeper was hit by gunfire in Naqoura on Friday night. An Israeli strike on Thursday wounded two peacekeeping soldiers.

The attacks have been denounced by the UN and US President Joe Biden. Israel's military says its forces were responding to an "immediate threat" by Hezbollah close by.

"The situation is highly concerning because our positions and peacekeepers have been hit several times in the last several days," Tenenti said, adding that their bases and "cameras, communication system, lighting" have also been hit.

Tenenti added that Israel's military asked the peacekeepers to move from certain positions, but "the decision was taken to stay."

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said another peacekeeper was hit by gunfire in Naqoura in southern Lebanon on Friday night.

The origin of the fire was not known and the peacekeeper underwent surgery to remove the bullet. The person was stable, UNIFIL said.

The incident comes 48 hours after four UN peacekeepers were injured amid the Israeli offensive.

On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its troops were responsible for the incident, in which two Sri Lankan soldiers who were serving in the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission were injured.

IDF soldiers operating around the UNIFIL base in Naqoura identified a threat and opened fire, the Israeli military said.

Friday's incident came after the peacekeeping mission said its positions had been "repeatedly hit" and two Indonesian blue helmets were injured on Thursday.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the bloc was very concerned about an Israeli draft bill that would put a stop to the crucial work carried out by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, in the Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank.

The EU is "gravely concerned" about the bill because if adopted, it would have "disastrous consequences, preventing the UN Agency from continuing to provide its services and protection to Palestine refugees in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza."

The Israeli parliament in July gave premilitary approval to a bill that would declare UNRWA a terrorist organization. Israeli leaders have accused UNRWA staff of collaborating with Hamas militants in Gaza. 

UNRWA provides education, health and aid to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

It has long had tense relations with Israel but ties have deteriorated sharply since the start of the war in Gaza and Israel has called repeatedly for UNRWA to be disbanded.

No food aid has entered northern Gaza since the start of October, the United Nations' World Food Programme said on Saturday.

"The north is basically cut off and we're not able to operate there," said Antoine Renard, the WFP's director for the Palestinian territories.

The WFP said its food distribution points, kitchens and bakeries in northern Gaza have been forced to close due to airstrikes, ground operations and evacuation orders.

It said the only functioning bakery in northern Gaza, which the WFP itself supports, caught fire after it was hit by an explosive munition.

The WFP also said the last remaining supplies in the area — including canned food, flour, high-energy biscuits and nutritional supplements — have already been distributed.

"It is unclear how long WFP's remaining food supplies in the north, already distributed to shelters and health facilities, will last," the WFP said on social media.

Israel's military body overseeing aid distribution COGAT, had denied on Wednesday that it was not allowing food to enter northern Gaza.

"Israel has not halted the entry or coordination of humanitarian aid entering from its territory into the northern Gaza Strip," it said in a statement, adding that it will continue to allow humanitarian aid into the north as evidence.

Concerns have again emerged over a hunger crisis in Gaza after the UN's independent investigator on the right to food, Michael Fakhri, in August accused Israel of carrying out a "starvation campaign" against Palestinians.

Israel has repeatedly denied allegations that it has prevented or slowed the flow of aid into the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli military renewed calls for Palestinians in the north of the Gaza Strip to leave their homes on Saturday.

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said the Israel Defense Forces were continuing their offensive against "terrorist organizations" around the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City as well as the Jabaliya refugee camp.

"The specified area, including the shelters within it, is considered a dangerous combat zone," he said in Arabic on social media.

Israeli fighter jets and artillery have carried out strikes on the Jabaliya refugee camp in recent days.

The Israeli military told residents of southern Lebanon "not to return" to their homes on Saturday morning amid ongoing fighting.

Israeli forces continue to "target Hezbollah posts in or near your villages," IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee said on social media.

"For your own protection, do not return to your homes until further notice. Do not go south; anyone who goes south may put his life at risk."

In a separate post, Adraee also called for health workers in southern Lebanon to avoid using ambulances. He alleged ambulances were being used by Hezbollah fighters.

"We call on medical teams to avoid contact with Hezbollah members and not to cooperate with them," he said.

"The IDF affirms that the necessary actions will be taken against any vehicle transporting armed individuals, regardless of its type."

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Saturday morning that it "successfully intercepted" a projectile over Galilee, referring to the area of Israel near the border with Lebanon.

In a post on social media, the IDF said the launch had originated from Lebanon.

Moments earlier, Lebanese group Hezbollah claimed it launched a salvo of missiles "south of the city of Haifa, targeting the explosives factory there," the AFP news agency reported.

The events coincided with Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

Lebanese group Hezbollah has warned Israelis to stay away from Israeli military sites in residential areas in the north of the country.

In a statement published in Hebrew and Arabic, Hezbollah claimed that the Israeli military has bases in neighborhoods of cities like Haifa, Tiberias and Acre.

The group warned Israelis against "being near these military gatherings in order to preserve their lives."

Hezbollah is an Iran-backed Shiite political party and militant group in Lebanon. It is designated as a terrorist organization by the US, Germany and several Sunni Arab countries. The EU lists its armed wing as a terrorist group.

Border skirmishes between the group and Israeli forces have occurred almost daily since the October 7 Hamas terror attacks last year, with Hezbollah saying attacks on Israel were in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.

In September, fighting escalated with Israel conducting airstrikes in various areas including the capital Beirut, some of which killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Earlier this month, Israel began a ground invasion of southern Lebanon. 

Israel says it is attacking Hezbollah so that displaced Israeli citizens can safely return to the north near the border to Lebanon. Some 60,000 were evacuated from northern Israel because of Hezbollah's attacks. 

Nicaragua is breaking off diplomatic relations with Israel, Vice President Rosario Murillo said Friday, calling the Israeli government "fascist" and "genocidal."

The government said in a statement that the break in relations was due to Israel's attacks on Palestinian territories.

Earlier in the day, the country's parliament, the National Assembly, called on the government to take action regarding Israel.

The move is essentially symbolic, as relations between Israel and the Central American country are virtually nonexistent. Israel does not have an ambassador in the Nicaraguan capital, Managua.

Nicaragua has become increasingly isolated in recent years after President Daniel Ortega cracked down on anti-government protests in 2018. However, Iran is an ally of Ortega's administration.

zc,dh/lo (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)