In a significant development, Hezbollah’s Secretary General, Hassan Nasrallah, addressed the public on Friday, refuting any association with the recent Hamas attack on Israel. This marked his first speech since the outbreak of the conflict. Nasrallah categorically stated that his formidable armed group, a key ally of Hamas, was entirely unaware of the October 7 attack that resulted in the death of 1,400 Israelis.
Nasrallah asserted that the operation was “100% Palestinian in terms of decision and execution,” vehemently rejecting allegations that the Iran-backed group played a role in the assault. He emphasized the secrecy maintained by the Palestinians, stating, “Even the Palestinians had kept it secret even from their fellow Palestinian resistance factions in Gaza, let alone other resistance factions across the resistance axis.”
This announcement unfolded against the backdrop of a rising death toll in Gaza, surpassing 9,200 according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made his third visit to Israel since the commencement of the conflict.
The United States is actively advocating for a “humanitarian pause” in the ongoing hostilities. In contrast, the Pentagon expressed opposition to a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, with spokesperson Pat Ryder stating, “We do not support a cease-fire in that it gives Hamas time to regroup, which is something that would put Israeli citizens and others in danger.”
The new approach from the Pentagon and the White House favors a “humanitarian pause” to facilitate the delivery of aid to Gaza. Notably, Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) became the first member of the US Senate to call for a cease-fire on Thursday.
Against the backdrop of increased fighting in northern Gaza and Gaza City, the United States has heightened its military presence in the Middle East. The amphibious assault ship USS Bataan was observed in the Red Sea on Wednesday following drone attacks by Yemen’s Houthis on the southern Israeli city of Eilat. This development adds a new layer of complexity to the evolving situation in the region.
