Israel's forces open fire in Lebanon, claim truce violation

With the ceasefire in Lebanon proving fragile, there's been no letup to the conflict in Gaza.

The humanitarian situation remains desperate as people cling to the hope that a similar truce might be reached for Gaza.

Watch DW's report here:

The Lebanese army has alleged that Israel violated the current ceasefire "several times" on Wednesday and Thursday. 

The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah began early in the morning on Wednesday. 

"The Israeli enemy violated the deal several times," the Lebanese army said in a post on X, while accusing Israel of "air violations" and "targeting Lebanese territory with various weapons."

The Lebanese army said it was following up on the ceasefire violations with relevant authorities. 

Earlier, Israel said it fired on southern Lebanon after detecting Hezbollah activity there.

The Palestinian news agency WAFA said at least nine people were killed in a fresh attack by the Israeli military in central Gaza. 

It said a strike hit the area of the Nuseirat refugee camp and also resulted in several injuries. 

News agency Reuters, meanwhile, cited health officials as saying 11 people had died in the area. 

Reuters also reported lethal strikes in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza, and Khan Younis in the south on Thursday, citing medics. 

An Israeli military spokesman has warned Lebanese civilians of an overnight curfew in the part of Lebanon Hezbollah forces are supposed to leave.

"It is strictly forbidden to move or travel south of the Litani River starting from 5:00 p.m. (1500 UTC/GMT) until 7:00 a.m. tomorrow," Avichay Adraee said in a post online. 

He said people located south of the river should stay where they are during the evening and night, for their own safety.

Hezbollah is expected to withdraw all its forces to the northern bank as part of the 60-day truce with Israel.

Adraee's warning comes amid reported violations of the ceasefire and attacks near the border on Thursday.

The conditions for survival are diminishing in the northern Gaza Strip, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

UNRWA said in a post on the platform X that 65,000-75,000 people are still in the north of the Palestinian enclave.

Israel has called for all civilians to leave the area.

UNRWA said the areas of Jabaliya, Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun have been cut off from humanitarian aid for weeks.

The agency said that the UN had attempted to reach these areas 91 times to provide assistance since October 6, but these were "denied" 82 times and "impeded" nine times.

UNRWA warned that Gaza had seen heavy rain and a drop in temperatures, saying that thousands of families were sheltering without blankets, mattresses or waterproof shelters.

Israel has claimed that its ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group was violated in southern Lebanon.

In a post on the platform X, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that it opened fire on several Hezbollah fighters, some of whom had arrived in vehicles.

In a separate post, the IDF said that it had fired a missile at what it detected as a "suspicious aircraft" in Lebanon but acknowledged that it had been "misidentified."

Also on Thursday morning, Lebanon's NNA news agency said that Israeli forces had fired on the town of Markaba in the south of the country, injuring two people.

It added that a tank had also fired on the village of Wazzani and Kfar Shuba.

All three villages are located near the Israeli border.

Under a ceasefire agreement that came into force on Wednesday morning, Hezbollah militants are to withdraw to beyond the Litani River, which lies some 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) north of the border with Israel.

Lebanese authorities have warned civilians from border towns and villages not to return to their homes before the withdrawal of Israeli forces is complete. Under the truce deal, Israel is to withdraw its troops over the next 60 days.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel maintains the right to act if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the ceasefire deal.

sdi/nm (Reuters, AFP, dpa)