### Escalation in Middle East Conflict: Deadly Strikes and Renewed Global Criticism

In a tragic development, over 20 individuals lost their lives following an Israeli airstrike on a Maronite village in northern Lebanon, with Hezbollah retaliating by firing rockets at Tel Aviv, marking a significant intensification in the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict. This tragic event is unfolding as multifront violence continues to spiral out of control.

The bombing, which struck a small apartment building in Aitou near Tripoli, resulted in 21 fatalities as reported by the Lebanese Red Cross. The strike devastated the building and left the local community in shock and desperation. According to Aitou's mayor, Joseph Trad, the apartment was housing families displaced by recent fighting, highlighting the growing humanitarian crisis.

Internationally, Israel is facing mounting criticism over a series of attacks, notably those targeting positions of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. Five peacekeepers have been injured, prompting condemnation from Italy, Britain, France, and Germany, who issued a joint statement urging the immediate cessation of attacks on UN personnel. Josep Borrell, the EU foreign policy chief, labeled the assaults on UN troops as "completely unacceptable."

In Gaza, the situation remains dire with continued and escalating violence. Over the past 24 hours, Israeli strikes resulted in numerous civilian casualties, including the deaths of four individuals in an attack on the courtyard of al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah. Another bombing on a school transformed into a shelter in Nuseirat refugee camp claimed at least 20 lives. A drone strike in al-Shati camp tragically took the lives of five children, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency.

Rights groups have raised alarms over Israel's ongoing military campaign in northern Gaza, accusing the Israeli forces of employing tactics that may constitute war crimes. Organizations such as B'Tselem, Gisha, Yesh Din, and Physicians for Human Rights have issued a joint statement calling on the international community to intervene. They caution that the strategy being employed by Israel could lead to mass starvation and forced displacement, urging immediate international action to prevent such outcomes.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported targeting key Hezbollah figures and positions in Lebanon, including an anti-tank unit head in Nabatieh. The response from Hezbollah included firing at least three rockets towards Tel Aviv, which were intercepted by Israel's air defence systems, triggering alarms across central and northern Israel.

The recent spike in violence has also seen one of the deadliest attacks on Israeli forces, with Hezbollah executing a drone attack on a military base near Binyamina, resulting in four soldiers' deaths and severe injuries to seven others.

As the conflict spills across borders and engulfs civilian and military lives alike, the humanitarian toll continues to escalate, with many in Gaza facing severe shortages of food and essential supplies due to ongoing blockades. The UN World Food Programme has reiterated its warning of an impending famine as Northern Gaza remains under strict evacuation orders and entry of food supplies is severely restricted.

The international community remains on high alert, watching as the volatile situation threatens to unleash further devastation in the already battered region.