A senior US diplomat, Amos Hochstein, has arrived in Israel after a visit to Beirut, Lebanon, to present a draft cease-fire agreement aimed at halting hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. Hochstein is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the terms of the proposed truce.

In a statement, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller highlighted Israel’s recent military successes, stating that the country had effectively cleared out Hezbollah infrastructure near its border. Miller expressed confidence that these developments had created the conditions necessary for a potential diplomatic resolution.

The UN has reported that over 3,000 Lebanese civilians have been killed as tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have intensified in recent months.

Gaza Strike Kills 22 Civilians

Meanwhile, in Gaza, an Israeli airstrike on a residential building near Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza has killed at least 22 civilians, according to the director of the hospital, Hossam Abu Safia. The hospital’s director described the gruesome scene, stating that bodies were arriving in pieces and that Gaza's health system had collapsed. This comes as the Hamas-run Health Ministry reported that nearly 44,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Gaza since Israel’s war with Hamas began in October 2023.

Israeli Strike in Syria Kills Dozens

In Syria, at least 61 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the city of Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that most of the victims were individuals linked to Hezbollah or other Iran-backed militias. The Syrian Defense Ministry confirmed 36 deaths. Israel has not officially commented on the strike, but its government has previously stated its intention to curtail Hezbollah’s influence in the region.

US Democrats Fail in Bid to Block Weapons Sales to Israel

In the United States, a group of Democratic senators, led by independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, failed in their attempt to block US arms sales to Israel. Sanders accused the US of being complicit in the “atrocities” in Gaza, particularly pointing to the humanitarian crisis. Despite Sanders' efforts, his three resolutions garnered only about 20 votes, with many fellow Democrats declining to support the measures.