US President-elect Donald Trump wants to resolve the conflict in the Gaza Strip before his inauguration on January 20. This was stated by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham for the portal Axios.
According to him, Trump wants a deal for a ceasefire in the enclave and the release of hostages to be concluded as soon as possible, preferably before he returns to the White House. “Trump is more serious than ever about securing the release of the hostages and supports the idea that the ceasefire will include a deal for the hostages. He wants it to happen now,” the senator said, stressing that Trump wants “the killing and the fighting to stop".
Graham also expressed hope that the current US administration will cooperate with Trump on the Middle East ceasefire issue. “I hope that President Trump and the Biden administration will work together during the transition to release the hostages and achieve a ceasefire,” - he remarked.
During the election campaign, Trump said that if he won, he would be able to end the chaos in the Middle East. The politician also noted that such a level of escalation in the region would be impossible if he were at the head of the American administration.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) imposed a ban on civilian movement in southern Lebanon and barred residents of more than 60 Lebanese villages from returning to their homes in the border area.
Civilians are prohibited from moving south of the demarcation line connecting 10 Lebanese settlements near the border with Israel. As the IDF statement emphasized, those who move south of this line will put themselves in danger.
In addition, the Israeli army published a list of more than 60 Lebanese villages whose residents are prohibited from returning to their homes.
At least 1 million residents of the Gaza Strip lack adequate shelter to protect them from the cold winter weather. This is stated in a report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
„Less than a quarter of housing needs in the Gaza Strip have been met, putting about 1 million people at risk of exposure to harsh weather conditions as winter approaches,” the document noted.
According to the international organization, another 545 thousand people live in damaged buildings and improvised shelters. The authors of the report indicate that the Palestinian enclave needs supplies of tarpaulins and other construction materials.