By Afshain Afzal

In the latest development, people from Lebanon of Palestinian and Syrian origins are arriving by boat to Cyprus to escape their planned deaths. However, these refugees are not allowed by Lebanon and Cypriot Armed Forces to stay in Cyprus or reach Europe. As part of a policy, Cyprus removes Syrian and Palestinian refugees back to Lebanon, where they are being killed by Israel’s Defence Forces. Lebanese Armed Forces and Cypriot authorities work together to keep refugees from reaching Europe, so they are either deported to Syria or killed. In the recent past, €1 billion package to Lebanon through 2027, including money to the “Lebanese Armed Forces and other security forces with equipment and training. As per the Cyprus Embassy in Beirut, they received hundreds and thousands of applications but those are not processed.

In another development, a meeting with foreign ministers from France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom took place on 2 October 2024, to coordinate a response to Iran’s attack on Israel and stability in the Middle East through further sanctions on Iran. Israel's right to respond was also discussed. Plans to attack Iran’s nuclear sites were also considered but not approved. There were proposals to target Tehran’s oil and gas refineries and other targets.

Meanwhile, Israel's drones carried out attacks at the Islamic Health Society's center in the Zuqaq al-Blat area of Bachoura in the Lebanese capital Beirut. Media reports claimed nine health workers were martyred and two injured but other reports give high death toll.

On 28 October 2024, six paramedics from the Islamic Health Organization were killed in Beqaa. The Israeli army has issued new evacuation orders to Lebanese residents of the Beqaa, the southern suburbs of Beirut and south Lebanon.

Beqaa is located about 30 km east of Beirut and is considered one of the most sacred for Muslims. Israel’s Defence Forces are destroying the centuries-old ruins and heritage while awarding contracts everywhere to bring deliberate constructional changes including demolishment. Israel and Western allies are also destroying sites of historical importance in Israeli air raids and other attacks. It is high time that UNESCO authorities take action to protect the holy sites in Israel's occupied territories, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and elsewhere. More so UNO must play its role to stop the planned massacre of Syrian, Palestinian and others.