Israel war: $10m in Aussie aid amid hopes of further truce talks as Israel kills three journalists
A fire has erupted in southern Beirut after Israeli warplanes destroyed two buildings, as separate air strikes killed three journalists in Lebanon with no warning. Meanwhile, Australia boosted aid funding.
Three journalists covering Israel’s war on Lebanon have been killed in an apparent targeted Israeli strike on their accommodation in Lebanon’s southern Hasbaiyya area, as warplanes destroyed two buildings in Beirut’s south.
An Israeli – either air strike or drone strike – came into the compound where journalists are being housed in a series of villas. Israel gave no warning and the area had no evacuation orders in place.
Separately, in Beirut’s southern Choueifat Al-Amrousieh area, Israeli warplanes “destroyed two buildings and ignited a large fire, and black smoke covered the area,” according to NNA.
It comes as the federal government will provide $10m in humanitarian assistance to civilians affected by the devastating Israel-Palestine war that has recently spread to Lebanon.
On Friday, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said the multimillion dollar aid contribution would be distributed through United Nations partners to address urgent and emerging needs.
Around 800,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon due to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, causing emergency shelters to become overwhelmed.
The funding will be targeted towards improving access to food, shelter, healthcare and other critical services as the conflict continues.
“The conflict in Lebanon is taking a heavy toll on civilians, including women and children,” Ms Wong said.
“This additional contribution will help those in urgent need, through access to food, shelter and healthcare.”
Over the past year, the Australian government has committed $94.5 million in humanitarian assistance to support people impacted by the Israel-Palestine war and the subsequent expansion of the conflict to Lebanon.
Australians are warned not to travel to Lebanon, and the government has continually urged any Australians who are currently in the country to leave.
The government received 3600 requests for repatriation from Australians who were stranded in Lebanon when the conflict erupted.
Hundreds of Australians have been successfully brought home but it is unclear how many are still in the country.
The government has said as many as 15,000 Australians regularly reside in Lebanon.
It comes as Israel said its spy chief will attend Gaza ceasefire talks and Hamas vowed to stop fighting if a truce is reached, as long-stalled efforts to end the war appeared to gain momentum.
Previous bids to stop the year-long war have failed, though the United States has voiced hope the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar last week could serve as an opening for a deal.
A senior Hamas official told AFP that a delegation from the group’s Doha-based leadership discussed “ideas and proposals” related to a Gaza truce with Egyptian officials in Cairo on Thursday.
“Hamas has expressed readiness to stop the fighting, but Israel must commit to a ceasefire, withdraw from the Gaza Strip, allow the return of displaced people, agree to a serious prisoner exchange deal and allow the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza,” the official said.
The talks in Cairo were part of Egypt’s ongoing efforts to resume ceasefire negotiations, he added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he welcomed Egypt’s readiness to reach a deal “for the release of the hostages” still held by militants in Gaza.
After the Cairo meeting, Mr Netanyahu directed the head of Israel’s Mossad spy agency to leave for key mediator Qatar on Sunday to “advance a series of initiatives that are on the agenda,” the prime minister’s office said.
Earlier on Thursday, the United States and Qatar said Gaza ceasefire talks would resume in the Qatari capital.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Qatar’s leaders in Doha on Thursday on his 11th trip to the region since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel sparked the Gaza war.
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Originally published as Israel war: $10m in Aussie aid amid hopes of further truce talks as Israel kills three journalists