Lebanon Warns Iqlim Kharoub Residents From Contact With COVID-19 Patients

 An aerial view shows the Lebanese capital Beirut's Martyrs Square almost deserted on March 26. AFP
An aerial view shows the Lebanese capital Beirut's Martyrs Square almost deserted on March 26. AFP
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Lebanon Warns Iqlim Kharoub Residents From Contact With COVID-19 Patients

 An aerial view shows the Lebanese capital Beirut's Martyrs Square almost deserted on March 26. AFP
An aerial view shows the Lebanese capital Beirut's Martyrs Square almost deserted on March 26. AFP

A Lebanese deputy warned on Monday that the country would be at great risk if residents do not abide by the precautionary measures to contain the spread of coronavirus.

“Things are starting to get out of control. If we are not aware of the situation and respect precautionary measures, unfortunately, every house, village, or town will be a threat,” said MP Bilal Abdullah, who represents the Iqlim El-Kharroub region.

A major spike in COVID-19 infections was witnessed last week in the town of Mazboud, in Iqlim al-Kharroub.

“Unfortunately, there are a lot of people, particularly those who are in contact with the infected, who are not quarantined in the appropriate condition,” Abdullah said.

He uncovered the registry of new COVID-19 infections in the Iqlim. “Things are starting to get out of our control. This is what is happening in Mazboud, Barja, Chehime, and Katarmaya,” he said.

Last Friday, the municipality of Mazboud had declared a state of emergency over an increase in the number of coronavirus infections.

The Health Ministry said last week that the majority of the new cases recorded in the country are among residents who had come in contact with infected individuals.

On Monday, the Lebanese Health Ministry had reported only five infections with the COVID-19, bringing the country’s total number of cases to 1,119.

It said no fatalities were reported in the country during the past 24 hours, leaving the toll at 26.

Last week, the Lebanese government had extended lockdown measures until June 7 after the country witnessed a spike in the number of infected people with 63 cases confirmed Thursday and a further 62 registered Friday.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Hamad Hassan announced Monday via his Twitter account that a million masks will be distributed for free, in cooperation between the Health Ministry and the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities.

“A mask and safe distancing are the components for a conscious return journey,” Hassan said.



G7 Leaders Endorse Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire and Insist Israel Follow International Law

 From left, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Britain's Foreign Office Political Director Christian Turner, and European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell pose for a family photo at the G7 of foreign Ministers in Fiuggi, some 70 kilometers south-east of Rome, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)
From left, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Britain's Foreign Office Political Director Christian Turner, and European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell pose for a family photo at the G7 of foreign Ministers in Fiuggi, some 70 kilometers south-east of Rome, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)
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G7 Leaders Endorse Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire and Insist Israel Follow International Law

 From left, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Britain's Foreign Office Political Director Christian Turner, and European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell pose for a family photo at the G7 of foreign Ministers in Fiuggi, some 70 kilometers south-east of Rome, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)
From left, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Britain's Foreign Office Political Director Christian Turner, and European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell pose for a family photo at the G7 of foreign Ministers in Fiuggi, some 70 kilometers south-east of Rome, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)

Foreign ministers from the world’s industrialized countries said Tuesday they strongly supported an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and insisted that Israel comply with international law in its ongoing military operations in the region.

At the end of their two-day summit, the ministers didn’t refer directly to the International Criminal Court and its recent arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister over crimes against humanity.

Italy had put the ICC warrants on the official meeting agenda, even though the G7 was split on the issue. The US, Israel’s closest ally, isn’t a signatory to the court and has called the warrants “outrageous.”

However, the EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell said all the other G7 countries were signatories and therefore obliged to respect the warrants.

In the end, the final statement adopted by the ministers said Israel, in exercising its right to defend itself, “must fully comply with its obligations under international law in all circumstances, including international humanitarian law.”

And it said all G7 members — Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States – “reiterate our commitment to international humanitarian law and will comply with our respective obligations.” It stressed that “there can be no equivalence between the terrorist group Hamas and the State of Israel.”

The ICC warrants say there's reason to believe Netanyahu used “starvation as a method of warfare” by restricting humanitarian aid and intentionally targeted civilians in Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza — charges Israeli officials deny.