Former Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and Defense Elias El Murr ,emphasized during the inauguration of a large statue of the Virgin Mary in Bteghrine that obstructing the election of the President of the Republic is a crime, and that Christianity is a message rather than a political tool. He added that Lebanon cannot thrive with Christians alone or without them and that building a modern state requires the efforts of all its sons and daughters. El Murr called for cooperation and tolerance, condemned the delay in electing a president and the negligence of responsibilities, and stressed the importance of collective work to build and develop Lebanon.
The Israeli military issued new warnings for Palestinians to evacuate the Khan Younis area, adjusting the humanitarian zone to exclude the Jala neighborhood due to military activities against Hamas. This adjustment was based on intelligence about the presence of terrorist infrastructure in the area, aiming to minimize civilian harm. Warnings are being sent via air-dropped leaflets, text messages, phone calls, and media broadcasts, with confirmation that hospitals in the area are not included in the evacuation and that Palestinian and international officials have been informed.
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai stated that "the word of God liberates, unites, and gathers, and I wish every responsible person would listen to God's words to change many of their negative positions, primarily the obstruction of the presidential election." Meanwhile, Bishop Elias Audi, during his sermon, said, "Our leaders have led the country to the depths of hell and continue to widen the chasm."
U.S. President Joe Biden, in a statement to CBS today, considered former President Donald Trump a "real threat to America's security and that he should not return to the White House."
Jordanian King Abdullah II affirmed on Sunday that his country "will not be a battlefield and will not allow its people's lives to be put at risk," amid concerns about escalating military tensions between Iran and its allies on one side, and Israel on the other.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported that Egypt and the Palestinian Authority are in talks about the latter taking over the Rafah crossing as part of a broader plan to enable the PA to gradually control strategic sites in Gaza post-war. Palestinian official Hussein al-Sheikh met with an Egyptian official in Ramallah to discuss the plan, which has strong support from Cairo and is expected to receive support from the United States as well. The Rafah crossing is a crucial point for humanitarian aid and patient evacuations from Gaza, while Israel opposes any future role for Hamas there, and Cairo has warned Israel about its operations in Rafah due to the threat to its national security.
Economically, Bangladesh Central Bank Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder and Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan resigned following the ousting of Sheikh Hasina's government, due to pressure from protesters demanding their resignation, according to local media.
