Rai Calls for Freeing Lebanon From 'De Facto Influence'

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai speaks during Sunday’s mass in Bkirki. NNA
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai speaks during Sunday’s mass in Bkirki. NNA
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Rai Calls for Freeing Lebanon From 'De Facto Influence'

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai speaks during Sunday’s mass in Bkirki. NNA
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai speaks during Sunday’s mass in Bkirki. NNA

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai called on Lebanon’s political parties to support the government in implementing reforms and “free the state's decision from the influence and interference of de facto forces.”

During Sunday’s mass sermon in Bkirki, Rai said rival parties should cooperate to help the government achieve the required reforms.

“We all have the duty to distinguish between what is positive, and cooperate to promote it; and what is negative, to work together to correct it,” the patriarch stressed.

“This is what we expected from last Wednesday’s consultative meeting at the Presidential Palace, to study the draft economic rescue plan, before its submission to Parliament in its full form,” he added, referring to last week’s meeting that gathered the heads of political blocs to discuss the cabinet’s reform plan.

As he welcomed the move taken by the government, Rai emphasized that the government had local and external obligations.

“Internally, it has a duty to look into citizens’ urgent affairs and take swift measures to solve their financial, health, environmental, and living problems, in addition to unemployment, hunger, and poverty,” he said.

He continued: “Externally, the government should accelerate the completion of the reform plan and submit it to Parliament for approval, in order to be able to conduct constructive negotiations … especially with the International Monetary Fund.”

The Maronite patriarch finally urged the political parties to “encourage and support the government in achieving the required reforms” both locally and externally, and “free the state’s decision from the influence and interference of de facto forces and strengthen Lebanon’s relations with its surroundings and with the international community.”



UN Calls for Independent Probe into Civilians Harmed Trying to Get Food in Gaza

 Palestinians carry bags filled with food and humanitarian aid provided by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed organization approved by Israel, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP)
Palestinians carry bags filled with food and humanitarian aid provided by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed organization approved by Israel, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP)
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UN Calls for Independent Probe into Civilians Harmed Trying to Get Food in Gaza

 Palestinians carry bags filled with food and humanitarian aid provided by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed organization approved by Israel, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP)
Palestinians carry bags filled with food and humanitarian aid provided by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed organization approved by Israel, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP)

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Tuesday slammed as "unacceptable" the deaths of Palestinians seeking food aid in Gaza, a spokesman said, calling the loss of life in the territory "unthinkable".

"The Secretary-General continues to call for an immediate and independent investigation into these events and for the perpetrators to be held to account," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

"We are witnessing unthinkable loss of life in Gaza (and) the secretary-general condemns the loss of lives and injuries of Palestinians seeking aid," he said. "It is unacceptable civilians are risking and in several instances losing their lives just trying to get food."

At least 27 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded by Israeli fire near a food distribution site in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, local health authorities said, in the third day of chaos and bloodshed to affect the aid operation.

A spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross told Reuters that its field hospital in Rafah received 184 casualties, adding that 19 of those were declared dead upon arrival, and eight died of their wounds shortly after.

The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation launched its first distribution sites last week in an effort to alleviate widespread hunger amongst Gaza's war-battered population, most of whom have had to abandon their homes to flee fighting.

The Foundation's aid plan, which bypasses traditional aid groups, has come under fierce criticism from the United Nations and established charities which say it does not follow humanitarian principles.

The private group, which is endorsed by Israel, said it distributed 21 truckloads of food early on Tuesday and that the aid operation was "conducted safely and without incident within the site".

However, there have been reports of repeated killings near Rafah as crowds gather to get desperately needed supplies.

On Sunday, Palestinian and international officials reported that at least 31 people were killed and dozens more injured. On Monday, three more Palestinians were reportedly killed by Israeli fire.

The Israeli military has denied targeting civilians gathering for aid and called reports of deaths during Sunday’s distribution "fabrications" by Hamas.