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Hezbollah Reaffirms ‘Gaza-Lebanon Equation’

Elements of UNIFIL forces participated in protecting the activities of the medical day to assist displaced families in the city of Tyre (EPA)
Elements of UNIFIL forces participated in protecting the activities of the medical day to assist displaced families in the city of Tyre (EPA)
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Hezbollah Reaffirms ‘Gaza-Lebanon Equation’

Elements of UNIFIL forces participated in protecting the activities of the medical day to assist displaced families in the city of Tyre (EPA)
Elements of UNIFIL forces participated in protecting the activities of the medical day to assist displaced families in the city of Tyre (EPA)

The Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon has reiterated its stance in the conflict with Israel, connecting the halt of Gaza aggression to ceasing “support operations” in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah underscored that Lebanon will decide on future actions.
During a ceremony honoring a Hezbollah fighter, Hassan Fadlallah, a Hezbollah parliamentary member, said: “The resistance in Gaza determines our steps. Today, we’re on the brink of a major blow to the occupying army, despite sacrifices.”
“In Lebanon, the equation is clear: when Gaza attacks stop, support actions cease. Our front supports pressure on the enemy to defend Lebanon, preventing any thought of violating our land,” added Fadlallah.
Responding to concerns about Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanese politics, Fadlallah asserted Lebanon’s sovereignty in decision-making.
“Post-aggression decisions are Lebanese. They’re decided by Lebanese people and authorities, strengthening Lebanon’s defense and denying the enemy political gains they couldn't achieve militarily,” he affirmed.
Fadlalllah pointed to Israeli army exhaustion as a factor in halting the Gaza conflict.
“The Israeli army is now unable to continue, pressuring political leaders to stop the war,” he claimed.
Criticizing Hezbollah opponents in Lebanon, he said: “Some political voices undermine Lebanon’s strength.”
Field reports noted cautious calm in South Lebanon after limited cross-border clashes between Hezbollah and Israel and night bombings injuring four civilians, including firefighters.

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Israeli Defense Minister Says He Will End Detention without Charge of Jewish Settlers

Palestinians look at damaged cars after an Israeli settlers attack in Al-Mazraa Al-Qibleyeh near Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, November 20, 2024. (Reuters)
Palestinians look at damaged cars after an Israeli settlers attack in Al-Mazraa Al-Qibleyeh near Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, November 20, 2024. (Reuters)
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Israeli Defense Minister Says He Will End Detention without Charge of Jewish Settlers

Palestinians look at damaged cars after an Israeli settlers attack in Al-Mazraa Al-Qibleyeh near Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, November 20, 2024. (Reuters)
Palestinians look at damaged cars after an Israeli settlers attack in Al-Mazraa Al-Qibleyeh near Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, November 20, 2024. (Reuters)

Israel’s new defense minister said Friday that he would stop issuing warrants to arrest West Bank settlers or hold them without charge or trial — a largely symbolic move that rights groups said risks emboldening settler violence in the Israeli-occupied territory.

Israel Katz called the arrest warrants “severe” and said issuing them was “inappropriate” as Palestinian militant attacks on settlers in the territory grow more frequent. He said settlers could be “brought to justice” in other ways.

The move protects Israeli settlers from being held in “administrative detention,” a shadowy form of incarceration where people are held without charge or trial.

Settlers are rarely arrested in the West Bank, where settler violence against Palestinians has spiraled since the outbreak of the war Oct. 7.

Katz’s decision was celebrated by far-right coalition allies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. National Security Minister and settler firebrand Itamar Ben-Gvir applauded Katz and called the move a “correction of many years of mistreatment” and “justice for those who love the land.”

Since Oct. 7, 2023, violence toward Palestinians by Israeli settlers has soared to new heights, displacing at least 19 entire Palestinian communities, according to Israeli rights group Peace Now. In that time, attacks by Palestinian militants on settlers and within Israel have also grown more common.

An increasing number of Palestinians have been placed in administrative detention. Israel holds 3,443 administrative detainees in prison, according to data from the Israeli Prison Service, reported by rights group Hamoked. That figure stood around 1,200 just before the start of the war. The vast majority of them are Palestinian, with only a handful at any given time Israeli Jews, said Jessica Montell, the director of Hamoked.

“All of these detentions without charge or trial are illegitimate, but to declare that this measure will only be used against Palestinians...is to explicitly entrench another form of ethnic discrimination,” said Montell.