Day: March 17, 2024

The Islamic Resistance issued the following statement: "In support of our steadfast Palestinian people in Gaza and in reinforcement of their brave and honorable resistance, the Islamic Resistance targeted, at 2:20 am on Sunday, March 17, 2024, a gathering of enemy soldiers opposite the town of Al-Wazani, with appropriate weapons, accurately hitting its targets." Source: National News Agency - Lebanon

The UAE announced the arrival of the first humanitarian aid ship to the Gaza Strip carrying 200 tons of food and relief supplies, in cooperation between the UAE, the World Central Kitchen Foundation, and the Republic of Cyprus, through the sea corridor between Cyprus and Gaza, starting from the port of Larnaca. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out, in a statement, the efforts made by the UAE to mobilize support for the Amalthea sea corridor initiative to deliver humanitarian aid to northern Gaza and its success, and appreciated the vital role played by the leadership of the Republic of Cyprus and the World Central Kitchen Foundation. and international partners to enhance the humanitarian response provided to civilians in northern Gaza. The Ministry explained that the worsening catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip requires adopting such a multilateral, international cooperative approach to mitigate its repercussions without delay on innocent civilians, by ensuring the immediate, safe, and unhindered flow of aid on a large and sustainable scale. The Ministry stressed that the sea corridor is part of the tireless efforts to increase the flow of aid and commercial goods through all routes. Source: National News Agency - Lebanon

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry affirmed in a statement on Sunday, reported by 'Russia Today', Egypt's condemnation in the strongest terms 'the Israeli forces' continued attacks against defenseless Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, which claimed the lives of more than 60 martyrs during the past 24 hours, in addition to the hundreds of martyrs who fell while they were waiting for humanitarian aid at the Kuwait Roundabout and before that, the Nabulsi Roundabout.' Egypt called on Israel to "stop the policies of collective punishment against the residents of the Gaza Strip, which represent a complete violation of the provisions of international law and international humanitarian law." Egypt also called on Israel to "comply with its responsibilities as the occupying power, and refrain from targeting civilians, and the necessity of providing urgent aid to the residents of the Gaza Strip." Egypt renewed its warning against the dangers of carrying out any military operation in the city of Rafah "because of it s dire humanitarian consequences that would befall Palestinian civilians who took refuge in Rafah as the last safe haven inside the Strip." It considered that "taking this measure despite warnings and international rejection of it reflects indifference to the lives of innocent civilians, and is a grave violation of international law and international humanitarian law." Source: National News Agency - Lebanon

Beirut Airport - Miss Lebanon, Yasmina Zaytoun, who recently won the title of Miss Asia and first runner-up for Miss World, returned to Beirut this afternoon where she was welcomed at Rafic Hariri International Airport by Caretaker Tourism Minister Walid Nassar, Chairman of the Board of Directors of LBC, Pierre al-Daher, and a large crowd of media professionals, family and friends. In his welcoming word, Nassar said: 'In the name of the Lebanese, in the name of all our Arab brothers, and in the name of the world, we welcome Yasmina Zaytoun, Miss Asia and Oceania, and first runner-up for Miss World.' Addressing Zaytoun, he said: 'You have brought joy back to the Lebanese with your steadfastness and belief in what you are doing, and you have set new standards in this global competition that women are not limited to their external beauty.' Nassar considered that with her commendable performance, Zaytoun managed to prove to the judges, organizers and public opinion the strong dedication, intelligence and educa tion of a woman who has faith in what she is doing. 'Although this road was difficult and long, but with your strong will, you were able to reach,' he added, congratulating Zaytoun and hoping to be able to celebrate in her hometown of Kfarshouba in the beloved Lebanese south. For her part, Zaytoun thanked everyone who shared her joy and said: 'I tried with all my might to convey our voice as Lebanese, because Lebanon deserves everything that is beautiful.' She continued: "Through you, I say that this is the Lebanon whose image we want to show to the world, the Lebanon that does not surrender, the strong and beautiful Lebanon despite everything that we have been endured." She added: 'As a Lebanese woman, I tried to convey our voice and to show people what Lebanese and Arab women mean...Arab women are not solely limited to appearance and women are not only about external beauty.' Zaytoun referred to the content and message that she carries as a Lebanese lady, saying, 'I have never been afraid to convey our message as Lebanese and Arabs and everything we are going through in Lebanon, from the south to the north. This is Lebanon, which deserves all the devotion, and Lebanon deserves not only first runner-up title, but that of the entire world.' Finally, Zaytoun thanked the Minister of Tourism and LBC for their support and her family who believed in her from the very beginning. Source: National News Agency - Lebanon

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said today that he spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the necessity of providing comprehensive humanitarian aid to the residents of the Gaza Strip. He added in a joint press conference with Netanyahu in occupied Jerusalem: 'We cannot stand idly by and watch the Palestinians face the risk of starvation. This is not us. This is not what we stand for.' Source: National News Agency - Lebanon

The Islamic Resistance issued a communique this evening, indicating that in support of the steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, the Resistance fighters targeted at 6:30 pm today a gathering of Zionist enemy soldiers in the vicinity of the Hanita site with missile weapons. Source: National News Agency - Lebanon