Israeli military said it killed a Hamas commander in an airstrike in southern Lebanon’s Sidon areaReuters has seen a document that sets out the EU’s plan to tell Israel next week in talks in Brussels that Palestinian people displaced from Gaza should be “ensured a safe and dignified return to their homes in the territory.The bloc is to outline its position to Israeli officials in talks on 24 February as part of the EU-Israel Association Council, the first such session since 2022. Continue reading...
Israeli forces will remain in five "strategic points" in southern Lebanon after Tuesday's withdrawal deadline, according to the IDF. The decision comes under a US-France brokered ceasefire agreement, which required Israeli troops to withdraw from southern Lebanon. The Lebanese president expressed concerns about the incomplete withdrawal, while the IDF spokesperson stated that the troops would remain temporarily to ensure security. The IDF also reported killing a Hamas official in southern Lebanon, and an airstrike in Sidon reportedly killed one person. Meanwhile, Egypt is preparing a Gaza reconstruction plan excluding Hamas, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Saudi Arabia and Cairo to discuss a hostage deal. The EU plans to urge Israel to allow displaced Palestinians to return to Gaza in a "safe and dignified" manner.