Based leader of Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine , General Command ( PFLP-GC). Jibril threatened earlier that he intends to open another front if the Israeli aggression on Gaza continues.
There was a lot of speculation that Hezbollah, which denied any knowledge of the incident, planned all along to use a Palestinian party to open another front against Israel. The muscular language and threats of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah during his speeches fueled the speculation about his desire to get involved.
During a press conference , Samir Geagea leader of the Lebanese forces appeared outraged by the incident . He criticized Nasrallah's speech : " I wished Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah would have not mentioned the defense strategy during his last speech. The strategy should be discussed on the dialogue table." Geagea pointed his fingers at PFLP-GC for the rocket attack :" The PFLP-GC which takes orders from Damascus seems to be behind the rocket attack on Israel" he said. The LF leader added : Any new front with Israel is not in the interest of Palestinians. Any Lebanese party wanting to open a second front with Israel should propose the issue to the Lebanese government. The government is the party that decides on military operations." Geagea concluded: " Only the Lebanese government is allowed to open a front. What happened today is a clear violation of Lebanese sovereignty."
Lebanese Christian Maronite bishops warned Wednesday during their monthly meeting that the fighting in Gaza could spread to Lebanon, local LBC TV station reported. "The division in Lebanon of two rival groups is not a good signal especially when fire is burning in neighboring countries," the Bishops stated in their statement following their meeting in Bkirki.
At least 707 Palestinians have been killed and another 3155 wounded in Gaza. The number of children and civilians killed is causing a lot of international concern. Almost one third of total casualties are children
Friday
5:09 Egyptian FM Abou el Gheith : we feel completely satisfied over the decision by the UN to vote on the ceasefire resolution and we hope it will be implemented immediately
5:08 Saud el faisal : This accomplishment will save many lives in Gaza and we should make sure it is implemented quickly.
4:48 Al Jazeera : 6 were killed and several were wounded by an Israeli airstrike of a house in Bait Lahya
4:37 The Libyan representative pointed out that there are 11000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jail . This was in response to Rice 's comment about Shalit
4:36 Rice : The resolution should be implemented in a very open and clear manner . She pointed out that Gilad Shalit (an Israeli soldier who was captured in a cross border raid by Hamas ) is still detained by Hamas and should be freed . Rice said that Hamas occupied Gaza after a coup against the Palestinian authorities
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4:30 The US was the single country that abstained in its vote for resolution 1860 . all the other 14 of 15 members voted for the resolution
4:25 Bank -Ki Moon will visit the ME region next week to make sure the resolution is implemented
4:23 The UN security council voted for the Gaza ceasefire resolution which carried number 1860
4:22 fourteen out of 15 members voted for the ceasefire resolution , only one abstention
4:13 The UN Security council voting session has resumed after the French FM showed up
4:11 Al Arabiyeh : there is talk about errors in the Arabic translation of the draft resolution
04:07 Al Arabiyeh : mystery still surrounds the sudden disappearance of the French FM
4:00 Al Arabiyeh : the French FM who was chairing the meeting completely disappeared
3:57 al Arabiyeh: The UN Security council voting session has been delayed due to the absence of French FM Kouchner for unknown reasons.
3:23 The UN security council draft resolution encourages reconciliation between all the Palestinians
3:18 UN chief Ban Ki- Moon will be attending the voting session of the UN security council and will address the council
3:07 Al Arabiyeh : Saudi FM Saud bin Faisal and Amr Moussa threatened to hold a press conference to expose the French position , if the council did not vote on the Arab group text for a ceasefire resolution. The French wanted to delay the voting because the UN action would violate assurances President Sarkozy had given Israel
2:16 Al Arabiyeh: The UN security council is expected to vote shortly on a Gaza ceasefire draft resolution
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2:06 Egypt does not rule out the targeting of its foreign embassies by Hezbollah
2:00 Amr Moussa: The voting on a resolution should take place within 15 minutes or we will be hold a press conference
1:53 Israel is preparing for an air attack against PFLP - GC bases in Lebanon
1:46 A key Christaian Maronite religious leader told al Seyasseh newspaper: The Lebanese have are faced with only 2 option ( there is no third) : Either stand up and face the oppression and arrogance of Hezbollah which has exceeded all red lines of co-existence, or pack up our bags and leave our country.
1:41 Israeli diplomats have told al Seyasseh newspaper that neither PFLP- GC or any other Palestinian faction can access the location from which the rockets were fired on Israel , without the help and full knowledge of Hezbollah
Thursday
23:14 Diplomatic source : Diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict moved into higher gear at United Nations Headquarters in New York today with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon calling senior officials in the region, the Security Council holding consultations and the General Assembly going into session.
21:20 Russian Foreign ministry called on Lebanon and Israel to show self restraint and a sense of responsibility not to allow any provocations acts
21:16 Aljazeera: the fate of those detained by Israel in Gaza remains unknown .Some may have been already killed
20:50 Minister Taborian : we have delivered 42 million liters of diesel since the beginning of the year. Any delay in deliveries was caused by lack of availability of distribution tanks
20:32 : Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and the Asian delegation signed a memo directed to the Head of the European Parliament and U.N. Secretary-General calling for an immediate end to the war on Gaza.
20:23 Mitri: Cabinet rejected turning the south into a platform for launching missiles and vowed to pursue the perpetrators. Cabinet reiterates its position in holding Israel responsible for its aggression on Gaza, calls for an end to aggression, Israeli withdrawal and securing medical aid to Gazans.
20:14 UN chief Ban Ki Moon condemns Israeli attack against UNRWA convoy in Gaza
20:12 Al Arabiyeh : four rockets were launched from Israeli military navy boat against Gaza
20:11 Al Arabiyeh : Clashes between saraya el Quds and the Israeli forces continue in the Gaza Zaitoon district
20:07 LBC : All parties agreed during the cabinet meeting that south Lebanon should not become a battleground
20:05 Al Jazeera : More dead bodies were found under the rubble in Gaza
20:00 The Israeli delegation has returned from Cairo and has briefed Barak on the results of their discussions with the Egyptian authorities
19:57 US Senate: any ceasefire should prevent Hamas from firing rockets at Israel
19:54 Minister Khalife : we still have no information on who actually fired the rockets from south Lebanon and all possibilities should be considered
19:44 Minister Abou Faour : We insist on compliance with UNSCR 1701 and spare Lebanon any unnecessary involvement
19:45 Lebanon Files: some gas stations in north Lebanon have run out of diesel
19:43 Al Mujahideen brigades: we clashed with the Israeli forces in the center of Gaza and 4 soldiers were wounded
19:42 Minister Marouni said as he entered the cabinet meeting: If PFLP-GC wants to fire rockets at Israel then let them do this from the Golan heights , since their headquarters are based in Syria and not Lebanon
19:38 Spain condemns the rocket attack from south Lebanon against northern Israel
19:33 AlJazeera: Four Israeli citizens were wounded in Ashkelon by a mortar shell fired from the central Gaza
19:31 Al Arabiyeh: Saraya el Quds and the Israeli forces clash in the Zaitoun district of Gaza
19:29 Israeli FM Livni: Israel refuses ay agreement with Hamas and will only negotiate with moderates
19:27 Israeli president Perez : The rocket attack from south Lebanon will not go unnoticed, but we are not interested in an escalation of the situation on the northern front.
19:24 The Israeli army has confessed that one of its soldiers was seriously wounded in Naqab
19:09 The March 14 alliance has called for an emergency meeting tomorrow noon to discuss the dangerous development following the rocket attack from south Lebanon
19:00 : A number of young people cut the main road between el-Abdeh and Halba protesting continued electric power outage at most villages and towns in Akkar.
18:37 The cabinet is currently meeting at the Baabda palace to discuss the rocket attack from south Lebanon
18:20 Olmert confirms that Israel plans to continue its operation in Gaza
18:17 Britain, France and the United States present to Arab foreign ministers a UN Security Council resolution draft calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, diplomats said.
17:44 Israeli minister: Palestinians are behind the launching of the rocket attack against Israel and we hold the Lebanese government completely responsible for the incident
17:10 : A delegation representing the Asian troika arrived to Beirut. The delegation includes Iranian parliament Speaker, Syrian People’s Assembly Speaker and Indonesian Speaker of Parliament.
16:49 Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said that he hopes rockets fired from Lebanon were an 'isolated incident'
16:48 MP Butros Harb: The firing of rockets proves once again the need for the state to be the exclusive party authorized to have weapons on the Lebanese soil
16:46 Palestinian death toll reaches 763 after Thursday’s Israeli raids on Hamas. Dozens of bodies were found during a suspension in bombing, medics said.
16:35 UNRWA suspends activity in Gaza after its offices are were being increasingly targeted by Israeli attacks
16:40 : UNIFIL Commander Major General Claudio Graziano inspected the outskirts of Tair Harfa where the Katyusha rockets were fired earlier this morning.
16:30 Al Arabiyeh: The 8th Israeli soldier was killed today.
16:05 Hamas Gaza sources: Hamas will declare its position regarding the Egyptian ceasefire initiative on Thursday evening
15:50pm: Labor Minister Mohammed Feinsh told al-Arabiyeh: Hezbollah was not aware about targeting Israel with rockets.
15:48 Sarkozy said he and German Chancellor Merkel are ready to launch a joint initiative that will guarantee ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. No details were revealed
15:40 : al-Arabiya: UNIFIL helicopters fly over Lebanon’s southern border regions.
14:41 President Suleiman confirms need for commitment to UNSCR 1701 after meeting with Army Commander Jean Kahwaji.
14:35 Hamas: the Egyptian ceasefire initiative is not suitable for resolving this crisis
14:22 Al-Arabiya reports Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei prohibits the travelling of volunteers to Gaza to fight Israel.
14 :06 Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea during a press conference: Criticized Nasrallah's speech : " I wished Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah would have not mentioned the defense strategy during his last speech. The strategy should be discussed on the dialogue table." Geagea pointed his fingers at PFLP-GC for the rocket attack :" The PFLP-GC which takes orders from Damascus seems to be behind the rocket attack on Israel" he said. The LF leader added : Any new front with Israel is not in the interest of Palestinians. Any Lebanese party wanting to open a second front with Israel should propose the issue to the Lebanese government. The government is the party that decides on military operations. Geagea concluded: " Only the Lebanese government is allowed to open a front. What happened today is a clear violation of Lebanese sovereignty."
13:57 Prime Minister Fouad Siniora convenes cabinet meeting in Grand Serail. Another cabinet meeting is to be held in Baabda later today.
12:50 IDF officer is killed and three soldiers are wounded in a gun battle with Hamas in Gaza Strip.
12:24 Reuters: Israeli Minister Rafi Eitan holds Lebanese government entirely responsible for firing of rockets into Israel.
12:22 IDF calls on Lebanese state and cabinet to prevent the firing of rockets from its territories.
12:10 LBC: The Lebanese army sent troops to the area south of the Litani river to intensify patrols.
11:42 AFP: Information Minister Tareq Mitri said Hezbollah informed the Lebanese government that it was not involved in the rocket attack on northern Israel.
11:34 New TV : Minister of State for Administrative Development Ibrahim Shamseddine said that the rocket-launching from South Lebanon was a dangerous, strange and significant occurrence. “Lebanon can help Gazans if it is stable and united,” he said.
11:30 Al-Arabiya: UNIFIL Commander Maj. Gen. Claudio Graziano called for self-restraint.
11:20 The Israeli army denied that a new rocket fell on northern Israel.
11:18 Al-Jazeera: An explosion heard in Nahariya was from Israeli warplanes that broke the sound barrier.
11:14 UNIFIL was on high alert after rockets were fired at Israel from south Lebanon, a French military official said.
11:12 LBC: Lebanese security sources confirmed that a new salvo of rockets from south Lebanon fell on northern Israel.
11:11 Future News TV: Israeli police said that false air raid sirens went off in northern Israel and no new rocket hit it.
11:08 Future News TV: An Israeli army spokesman did not confirm that a new rocket hit northern Israel.
10:58 Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir commenting on the rocket attack on Israel: This is not a sign of good intentions. We’ve had enough killings and blows.
10:55 Israel radio: More rockets fired from south Lebanon fell on northern Israel.
10:16 Israel cancelled an earlier decision to suspend classes in the north.
10:14 Al-Arabiya: Israeli warplanes broke the sound barrier over Lebanon.
10:12 AP: A Lebanese government source said authorities are seeking to determine who fired the rockets on Israel, adding that the government is committed to truce.
10:00 Future News: Israeli PM Ehud Olmert invited the security cabinet for a meeting to discuss the situation in Israel’s northern front.
9:50 Al-Arabiya: PM Siniora sources said the rocket attack on northern Israel was a violation of Security Council Resolution 1701.
9:30 The Lebanese army said that the military and U.N. peacekeepers are adopting measures to bring the situation under control.
9:05 PFLP-GC official Anwar Raja did not confirm or deny the Palestinian group’s involvement in the attack on northern Israel.
9:00 Al-Arabiya: The Lebanese army is searching the area from where the rockets were fired.
8:55 UNIFIL troops intensified patrols in southern Israel.
8:52 Hamas in Lebanon said it was not behind the rocket attack on northern Israel.
8:50 LBC: Israel announced that it would retaliate to every rocket attack from southern Lebanon by a similar attack.
8:47 Rockets fired into northern Israel from Lebanon could have been set off by Palestinian groups in retaliation for the war in Gaza, Israeli media quoted unnamed military sources as saying.
8:45 LBC: Lebanese security sources confirmed that Israel shelled the outskirts of the border town of Tair Harfa.
8:40 Future TV: Israeli warplanes overflew southern Lebanese regions bordering Israel.
8:35 The Israeli army confirmed that it fired five shells on the source of rocket attack without clarifying the type of ordnance used.
8:20 Future TV: Schools in southern Lebanese towns near the border with Israel were closed.
8:18 Al-Jazeera: Israel decided to suspend classes in the north following the rocket attack.
8:15 Al-Manar TV: Israel fired 5 120mm mortar shells on the southern Lebanese town of al-Dhayra.
8:03 Israel’s Channel 10 reported that five people were lightly wounded or suffered shock from the rocket attack.
7:59 Media reports: Israel responded to the Katyusha attack by firing five artillery shells on the western sector of south Lebanon.
7:50 Katyusha rockets launched from south Lebanon hit Nahariya and western Galilee in northern Israel.
3:21 al Jazeera: An American -European proposal was presented to the security council to confirm the need for immediate and permanent ceasefire and declares its support for the Egyptian - French ceasefire proposal as a replacement to the Arab FM proposal.
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3:09 al Jazeera: Heavy clashes between the Palestinians and Israeli forces north east of Khan Younis
3:06 Future TV: UN sec Gen Ban- Ki Moon will expanding his Lebanon trip next week by including Palestinian territories and Israel
3:00 A Palestinian student was sentenced to 4 years in Jail by Israeli court for giving Hezbollah important and sensitive information
2:38 Future TV: The meeting is adjourned . Rice , Miliband and Kouchner plan to extend their stay to meet with the Arab groups later
2:31 Future TV: the Israeli government decided to begin stage 3 of the attack against Gaza
2:14 Rice, Miliband and Kouchner are meeting with the Arab groups
2:12 The Arab groups end their meeting and decided to amend the Arab FM proposal
1:45 Future TV: Israel is raiding Rafah area
1:42 Future: Iranian Parliament speaker Larijani is meeting Hamas leader Khaled Mishaal in Damascus
1:34 Twelve Israeli tanks entered the southern part of Gaza strip
1:32 Baroud : Lebanon will not be a battleground for any force that wants to mess with the security of the nation
1:16 Al Arabiyeh: The ASrab groups are continuing their efforts for a Gaza ceasefire resolution
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0:59 Israeli president Peres : We don’t want Gaza to be in the Iranian orbit
Wednesday
21:31 future TV : the death toll of Palestinians killed since the start of the Israeli aggression has reached 700
20:06 Rice : Israel should study and seriously consider the Egyptian proposal for ceasefire
20:02 al-Arabiya: Israeli Aircraft dropped shock bombs on Rafah area
20:00 Future TV : The Arab group rejects settling for a U.N. Security Council presidential statement concerning Gaza.
19:26 Hadley : Bush has set up the foundation of future peace between Israel and the Palestinians , but the biggest challenge is Iran ( In refence to Iran's support to Hamas )
19:21 Israel plans to file a complaint against Hamas at the UN for using the UNRWA schools to attack Israeli army
18:42 Czech Republic representative at the UN : The EU is extremely concerned about the civilian loss of life and urges all parties concerned to immediately cease fire
18:32 Egyptian Foreign ministry : we are encouraged by the Israeli response to the Egyptian ceasefire proposal
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18:31 3 Palestinian children and their father were killed in an Israeli airstrike in north Gaza
18:30 Vatican : both parties that are fighting in Gaza are guilty ( In reference to Israel and Hamas )
18:13 United Nations Security Council resumes its meeting to discuss a ceasefire proposal to end the Israeli aggression in Gaza
18:12 Four Palestinians killed in an Israeli air-strike of Beit Lahia
17:45 President Elect Obama: I am extremely concerned over what is happening and will happen in Gaza and will do whatever I can to resolve the issue as soon as I assume the presidency . Today I cannot do anything because it is not possible for 2 US administrations to manage the US foreign policy according to our constitution
17:30 The Arab representatives at the UN are meeting with Rice, US secretary of State
17:17 Olmert's adviser is heading to Cairo to discuss the Egyptian French ceasefire proposal
17:16 Turkey will be asked to put together the UN Observers force that is to be stationed in Gaza as soon as a ceasefire resolution is issued by the UN accepted by all parties , according to MID East diplomatic sources
Tags: Gaza, Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Palestinians, Syria
