At least 13 people were killed in an Israeli air strike targeting a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. The strike, which hit a car in the parking area of a mosque in Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp near Sidon, also wounded at least four others, with ambulances rushing the injured to nearby hospitals.

Israel Claims Targeting Hamas Militants

The Israeli military stated that the drone strike targeted members of Hamas allegedly operating a training compound within the refugee camp. Avichay Adraee, the military’s Arabic spokesperson, said:

“We will continue to act forcefully against Hamas’s attempts to establish a foothold in Lebanon and eliminate its elements that threaten our security.”

Hamas strongly denied the claim, calling it a “fabrication” and insisting that it does not maintain training facilities in Lebanese refugee camps. The group condemned the attack as a violation of Palestinian rights and Lebanon’s sovereignty.

Ongoing Cross-Border Violence

Earlier on the same day, Israeli strikes elsewhere in southern Lebanon killed two additional civilians. Since October 2023, Israel has targeted officials and members of Palestinian factions in Lebanon, following Hamas’s attack on southern Israel.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalated into a full-scale war in late September 2024, after Hezbollah began firing rockets in response to Israel’s offensive in Gaza. According to reports, the war killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon, including hundreds of civilians, and 127 people in Israel, including 80 soldiers.

Ceasefire Violations

A United States-brokered ceasefire halted the fighting in late November 2024. However, Israel has continued conducting dozens of air strikes on Lebanese territory, citing attempts by Hezbollah to rebuild its military capabilities. The Lebanese Ministry of Health reports more than 270 killed and around 850 wounded due to Israeli actions since the ceasefire.

Lebanese political analyst Karim Emile Bitar noted:

“There are daily violations of the ceasefire by Israel. The Lebanese government has gone above and beyond its duties, including disarming Hezbollah, yet Israel has failed to uphold its obligations under the agreement.”

The ceasefire, signed on November 27, 2024, required Israel to withdraw forces from southern Lebanon by January 26, a deadline that was not met.

Humanitarian Impact

The ongoing air strikes have compounded the suffering of Palestinians in refugee camps, where civilians face daily risks of violence and displacement. The Ein el-Hilweh camp, Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee settlement, has become a recurrent target amid Israel’s operations in southern Lebanon.

The strike underscores the fragile nature of regional peace and the continued threat to civilians in Lebanon amid the ongoing tensions between Israel, Hezbollah, and Palestinian factions.