Israel approves expansion of Lebanon operation

The Israeli Army’s Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi approved plans to expand its ground offensive in Lebanon, Israeli broadcaster KAN reported on Sunday.

“Alongside the diplomatic attempt to reach agreements in Lebanon, we need to continue formulating the plans for the continuation of the fighting in Lebanon, including expanding and deepening the [ground] manoeuvre, and we will activate these plans as needed,” Halevi said.

The Israeli military also said it was expanding its operations into Beit Lahiyah, northern Gaza.

Israel launched its ground invasion of Lebanon on October 1 after nearly a year of exchanging fire with Lebanese group Hezbollah.

At least 20 people, including three children, were killed and six others injured in an Israeli strike on Alamat in Lebanon's Mount Lebanon province, Lebanon's health ministry said on Sunday. At least 3,156 people have been killed and 13,979 have been injured by Israeli attacks, the Lebanese health ministry said.

The expansion of Israel’s operations come soon after Trump was re-elected US president and Qatar suspended its role mediating ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas.

The Gulf state's efforts to broker a deal will resume when "the parties show their willingness and seriousness to end the brutal war", the foreign ministry added.

Qatar has been working alongside the US and Egypt for months of talks to reach a ceasefire and hostage release agreement. However, all attempts at reaching a deal have fallen through.

The US has blamed Hamas for the failure, while Qatar implied Israel was to blame.

“…we have witnessed manipulation since the collapse of the first pause and the women and children deal, especially in retreating from obligations agreed upon through mediation, and exploiting the continuation of negotiations to justify the continuation of the war to serve narrow political purposes,” Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement released on Saturday, adding the country informed the relevant parties of the decision 10 days ago during the last attempts to reach an agreement.

Qatar also reaffirmed its “firm commitment to supporting the brotherly people of Palestinian people until they obtain all their rights.”