Intense rocket fire from Lebanon struck northern Israel Wednesday, including a confirmed direct hit in the historic city of Acre, hitting a kindergarten. Symbolically, November 20 is also World Children's Day. Throughout the afternoon, warning sirens echoed across northern communities from Nahariya to the Galilee Panhandle, with one barrage alone consisting of 25 rockets targeting the Acre region. The attacks came amid mounting regional tensions that included reported Israeli strikes in both Syria and the West Bank.
Video: The attacks in Syria on Nov. 20, 2024
Defense Minister Katz, addressing Intelligence Division commanders, outlined Israel's non-negotiable conditions for any diplomatic solution with Lebanon. "Preserving intelligence capabilities and maintaining the IDF's right to operate and protect Israeli citizens from Hezbollah" must be guaranteed in any arrangement, he declared, according to ministry spokesperson Sirit Avitan Cohen.
The regional situation grew more complex as Syrian sources reported a deadly Israeli strike on Palmyra, with 36 fatalities and 50 wounded. The Syrian Center for Human Rights specified that the targets were Iranian Revolutionary Guard installations, while Syrian state media confirmed multiple casualties in the attack.
Israeli military operations extended to the West Bank, where the Air Force targeted armed fighters in Jenin. In a separate operation, Border Police special units conducted a precision strike that led to the elimination of several fighters and the destruction of their hideout. On the diplomatic front, the United States prepared to block a UN Security Council resolution on Gaza. A senior diplomatic source confirmed that the US would veto the ceasefire proposal, citing its failure to connect the end of hostilities with the release of hostages. The resolution, introduced by non-permanent Security Council members, appears destined for defeat.
The day's developments also highlighted growing tensions over Qatar's diplomatic role, with a senior Palestinian official telling Al-Mayadeen that Washington is pressuring Qatar to force Hamas toward accepting previously rejected partial agreements. The source claimed the Biden administration seeks to diminish Hamas's political influence derived from its presence in Qatar.
