Death of Another Hezbollah Commander Coincides with Ongoing War in Gaza

Hezbollah and Lebanese sources confirmed that another commander of the group was killed in a drone strike attributed to Israel in southern Lebanon. According to these sources, Mustafa Hassan Salman, known as Abu Hassan, was killed on Sunday night, July 17, while riding a motorcycle in the town of Qalila. Mustafa Hassan Salman is reportedly the fifth Hezbollah field commander to be killed in recent Israeli attacks. A day earlier, Maytham Mustafa Attar, who was involved in directing rocket attacks towards northern Israel, was killed in an Israeli strike. Israel claims to have killed one of Hezbollah's air defense commanders. Last Wednesday, Mohammad Naimeh Nasser, commander of the 'Aziz' unit in the Hadatha area of southern Lebanon, was also killed. The Israeli army confirmed on Monday that it targeted Mustafa Hassan Salman as a member of Hezbollah's missile unit. According to the Lebanese state news agency, Israeli fighter jets also fired three missiles at Mount Tora in the Jezzine area deep in southern Lebanon on Sunday night. The Israeli army announced that it targeted Hezbollah's weapons storage site in the Jabal Tora area and another storage site of the organization in Qabriha, along with sites of this group in Talatha, Houla, and Aita al-Shab in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah claimed on Sunday night that it had attacked Mount Hermon in Israel. Israel confirmed rocket attacks and drone incursions into Western Galilee, which resulted in the injury of an American citizen. In recent weeks, concerns about the daily clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli army at the northern borders of Israel and southern Lebanon escalating into a broader war have prompted the U.S., Europe, and regional countries to warn both sides, with many governments urging their citizens to leave Lebanon immediately. However, Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, stated in a speech on Sunday during the month of Muharram that the cessation of his group's attacks on Israel is conditional upon the end of the Israeli army's war in Gaza. On the other hand, with the start of summer in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government is under pressure to return tens of thousands of residents evacuated from northern settlements, so they can prepare to return home in time for the school year starting on September 1 after nine months of displacement in other parts of Israel. According to Yedioth Ahronoth, reserve General Yair Golan, who recently took the lead of the United Left faction in Israel, stated on Monday, July 18, that the evacuation of the north was a long-term mistake and that the government has harmed Israel's national interests with such actions. Golan, who was previously the deputy chief of staff of the army, stated that short wars in Israel's history have been great successes, but the current leadership is currently leading the country 'without strategy and without clear objectives into a long war.' Attacks in Shuja'iyya, order to evacuate Al-Ahli hospital. As the tenth month of the Gaza war begins, the Israeli army announced on Monday, July 18, that it had 'destroyed' the re-energized command of the extremist group Hamas in the Shuja'iyya area of Gaza. According to the army, Hamas's command center was operating under the cover of a school affiliated with UNRWA, and Hamas had also repurposed a clinic in Shuja'iyya for military purposes. The Israeli army has entered this area in the city of Gaza after five months to confront fresh Hamas forces that had resumed activities in Shuja'iyya. On Monday, the army added that it had 'destroyed' a Hamas munitions manufacturing site with a large cache of various weapons in the school under the cover of UNRWA. Hamas also reported the Israeli army's order to evacuate the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City, which operates under UNRWA, the special relief agency for Palestinians. The health ministry affiliated with Hamas announced on Monday that in the latest Israeli attacks in a single day, 40 Palestinians were killed and 75 others were injured. According to this group, the death toll has risen to 38,193. Since the beginning of the war 276 days ago, Hamas has never separated the number of militants killed from civilians. The Israeli army claims that thousands of those killed were Hamas forces and other armed Palestinian organizations. The Hamas group is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the European Union. Associated Press reported on Monday that Hamas leaders outside Palestinian territories have called for a deal with Israel contrary to the wishes of Yahya Sinwar, the hidden leader of Hamas in Gaza. According to the news agency, citing Middle Eastern officials and two American officials, Hamas leaders abroad understand that the actions of the internal leadership of Hamas have led to widespread destruction and casualties among Palestinians in Gaza. The Associated Press added that a group of senior Hamas figures in Gaza has urged the group's leadership abroad to accept the ceasefire proposal offered two months ago by Joe Biden. Two American officials stated that Washington is aware of the internal disputes within Hamas's leadership and that given these disputes and the extent of destruction in Gaza, Egyptian and Qatari mediators could encourage the group to reduce its demands in negotiations for an agreement with Israel. According to the Associated Press, the destruction caused by nine months of war has pressured Hamas to lower its expectations for an agreement. Israeli media reported that Ronen Bar, head of the Shin Bet, Israel's internal security agency, traveled to Egypt on Monday, July 18, for further discussions related to indirect negotiations between Israel and the extremist group Hamas. According to these reports, Mr. Bar will also consult with Egyptian leaders regarding new border obstacles between Gaza and Egypt. Netanyahu stated that a ceasefire in Gaza should not prevent the fight against Hamas. The Israeli government has agreed that David Barnea, head of Mossad, will return to Doha later this week as head of the Israeli negotiating team for further discussions with Qatari, Egyptian, and American mediators. The families of 120 Israeli citizens who are hostages held by Hamas in Gaza intensified their protests on Sunday night in support of demonstrators against Benjamin Netanyahu's government, demanding that Netanyahu finalize an agreement with Hamas. Einav Tsangauker, the mother of Matan, a young man abducted to Gaza, chained herself inside the bars of a symbolic cage during a protest in Tel Aviv on Sunday night, with the cage elevated above the heads of the demonstrators. The families of these Israeli citizens criticized Netanyahu for five points he raised on Sunday as preconditions for a potential agreement, accusing him of obstructing the deal.