Death Toll in Lebanon Surpasses 3,000 as Israel-Hezbollah War Continues Unabated

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has resulted in over 3,000 deaths in Lebanon, according to the country's Health Ministry. This figure is more than double the casualties from their last major conflict two decades ago. Despite the high toll, the war shows no signs of abating, with Israel continuing operations against Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon and parts of Syria.

Hezbollah began launching rockets into northern Israel following a surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which sparked the war in Gaza. Both Hezbollah and Hamas have alliances with Iran. Initially, the conflict was mostly confined to areas along the Israel-Lebanon border. However, it escalated significantly on September 23 with intense Israeli airstrikes targeting southern and eastern Lebanon as well as Beirut's southern suburbs.

Impact on Civilians and Infrastructure

The escalation has led to hundreds of deaths and displaced nearly 1.2 million people. On October 1, Israel initiated a ground invasion of southern Lebanon, causing extensive damage in border villages but achieving limited territorial gains. Israel claims its operations aim to dismantle Hezbollah's weapons and command centers near the border, including a complex tunnel network.

According to Lebanon's Health Ministry, recent attacks on Sunday resulted in 16 deaths and 90 injuries, raising the total death toll to 3,002 with at least 13,492 injured. The ministry's figures do not distinguish between civilians and Hezbollah fighters. Meanwhile, Israel reports that hundreds of Hezbollah fighters have been killed.

Displacement and Casualties in Israel

In Israel, Hezbollah attacks have claimed 72 lives, including 30 soldiers, as per the Prime Minister's office. More than 60,000 individuals have been forced to leave their homes due to the ongoing hostilities.

On Monday, Israel announced it had ended an agreement that facilitated the work of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), which is a primary aid provider in Gaza. This move is part of implementing legislation passed last week aimed at severing ties with UNRWA, which Israel accuses of being infiltrated by Hamas.

UNRWA's Role and International Concerns

UNRWA denies these allegations and asserts it takes steps to maintain neutrality. The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that it informed the UN about cancelling an agreement from 1967 that enabled UNRWA's operations. It accused UNRWA of being "part of the problem in the Gaza Strip and not part of the solution."

Israel controls all access into Gaza, and aid groups warn that this legislation could severely hinder UNRWA's efforts, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. Although Israel claims UNRWA is responsible for only 13% of aid entering Gaza and suggests other agencies can compensate for its absence, aid organisations argue that UNRWA plays a crucial role in coordinating aid deliveries.

"Without UNRWA coordination, without UNRWA logistics platforms...no UN agency could operate at the scale required," said Jonathan Fowler, a spokesperson for UNRWA. The US State Department expressed opposition to the legislation and concern over inadequate aid reaching Gaza.

The agency provides essential services such as education and healthcare to Palestinian refugees from the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation and their descendants, now numbering nearly six million across the region. Refugee families constitute most of Gaza's population. The remaining parts of this legislation are expected to take effect in three months.