While Lebanon is experiencing the atmosphere of Eid al-Adha, the south did not celebrate due to the ongoing Israeli bombardment of its cities, albeit at a reduced rate today.
Meanwhile, Beirut is awaiting the visit of U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein on Tuesday, according to press information, while the presidential file remains suspended indefinitely.
Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi called for the selection of an exceptional figure for the presidency, characterized by morality, patriotism, courage, balance, and maturity.
Metropolitan Elias Audi of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut also called for "the wise and noble souls of this country, distinguished by their morals, humanity, knowledge, and expertise, far from any hidden interests or goals, to come together and agree on clear principles and objective interpretations of all disputes among the Lebanese, including constitutional articles, so that we may overcome the crisis that has lasted too long with catastrophic results for everyone."
Regionally, the Israeli army announced that it would observe a "tactical ceasefire in military activities" daily in parts of southern Gaza during specific hours of the day to allow humanitarian aid into the sector. The ceasefire will be in effect from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily until further notice, starting from the Kerem Shalom crossing to Salah al-Din Road and then northward.
Following this announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sharply criticized the army, stating, "Israel is a state with an army, not the other way around," and deemed "unacceptable decisions made at the military level." He added, "We are in a multi-front war, and our objectives in the southern sector have not changed," referring to the ongoing conflict with Hamas. He implied that some are calling for changing these objectives, hinting at the resignations of Benny Gantz and Gadi Eizenkot, saying, "They want defeat-washed decisions and to keep Hamas as it is, which is unacceptable to me."
In response to the Biden ceasefire deal for Gaza, Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh said that "the movement's response to the latest proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza aligns with the principles of U.S. President Joe Biden's plan."
The United Nations welcomed Israel's announcement of a daily ceasefire in military operations in southern Gaza, urging that "this should lead to further tangible measures" to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Internationally, the first global summit on peace in Ukraine, held without Russia, called for the "inclusion of all parties" in the conflict to stop the hostilities. The final statement, supported by the vast majority of the 100 participants, reaffirmed the "principles of sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of all countries, including Ukraine." However, the statement did not receive unanimous support, with India, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE being among the notable countries not listed as supporting nations.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov revealed that President Vladimir Putin does not rule out talks with Ukraine but stated that guarantees would be needed to ensure the credibility of any negotiations. At the same time, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced that Kyiv's positions were taken into account in the final statement of the summit of world leaders aimed at achieving peace in Ukraine.
The White House emphasized that President Vladimir Putin's proposal has no reasonable basis for peace with Ukraine. Putin's conditions for a ceasefire and negotiations included Kyiv withdrawing its forces from four regions in eastern and southern Ukraine and abandoning its bid to join NATO.
Economically, Norway announced it would grant Ukraine 1.1 billion kroner ($103 million) to help repair energy infrastructure and ensure the provision of electricity in the country before the coming winter.
