For the first time since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Israel observed the Jewish holy day amid active conflict on multiple fronts. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, began Friday evening under the shadow of war, as Israel faced rocket fire from Gaza, airstrikes in Lebanon, and rising tensions with Iran.
As the festival commenced, air raid sirens rang out across Israeli cities. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported over 120 rockets fired from Gaza in the early hours of Yom Kippur. Simultaneously, Israeli forces conducted retaliatory strikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.
Israel’s military operations in Gaza and Lebanon have sparked widespread international criticism, particularly following incidents involving UN peacekeepers. On Friday, Israeli troops fired on a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) post, injuring two Sri Lankan peacekeepers. A similar attack the previous day wounded two Indonesian peacekeepers. The IDF acknowledged the incident but defended its actions, citing an “immediate threat” near the UN position.
India expressed concern over the escalating violence, especially along the Blue Line, the UN-recognized border between Israel and Lebanon. “We are closely monitoring the situation,” read a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs.
The United Nations and several world leaders condemned the attacks on UN peacekeepers. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the assault “intolerable,” while US President Joe Biden urged Israel to halt operations targeting UN forces. French President Emmanuel Macron also called for restraint, demanding Israel respect the sanctity of UN missions.
Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, warned Israeli civilians to avoid areas near military sites in northern Israel, accusing the Israeli army of using residential neighborhoods as shields. Hezbollah has launched rocket attacks on Israel in retaliation for the IDF’s military campaign in Gaza, resulting in significant destruction on both sides.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalated following the October 7, 2023, Hamas assault on Israel, which claimed over 1,200 Israeli lives. The attack, the deadliest in Israeli history, ignited the current multi-front war.
Efforts to broker a ceasefire have so far been unsuccessful. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged the UN Security Council to pass a resolution. Mikati’s proposal, supported by Hezbollah, calls for the deployment of the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers along the border.
The United States has been actively involved in ceasefire negotiations. US envoy Amos Hochstein said Washington is in continuous talks to end the fighting, but despite these efforts, clashes have continued, with Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions in Lebanon and Hezbollah responding with rocket fire.
