Israel intensifies Gaza attacks and backs protocol limiting Lebanon's sovereignty

Israeli forces have stepped up air strikes on the Gaza Strip, killing at least 19 Palestinians on Saturday and raising the weekend death toll to 26, including women and children. The escalation follows the announcement of a U.S.‑backed cease‑fire roadmap championed by former President Donald Trump, which Israel has rejected, citing serious security concerns and opposing the plan’s terms.

In parallel, Lebanon’s government, under pressure from the United States, has adopted a confidential “executive protocol” that expands Israeli influence over southern Lebanon. The protocol, signed by a Lebanese delegation led by ambassador Simon Karam and including officials such as Nada Hamadeh Moawad and legal adviser Antoine Sfeir, would restrict Lebanese movement and limit future negotiations on border demarcation, echoing recent statements by Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar.

Both developments highlight heightened Israeli military and diplomatic activity in the region, deepening humanitarian concerns in Gaza and raising questions about Lebanon’s sovereignty and the broader Middle‑East peace process.