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Israel expected to approve ceasefire with Hezbollah, Israeli official says

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By Maayan Lubell, Maya Gebeily and Laila Bassam

JERUSALEM/BEIRUT (Reuters) – Israel looks set to approve a U.S. plan for a ceasefire with Lebanon’s Hezbollah on Tuesday, a senior Israeli official said, clearing the way for an end to the conflict that has killed thousands of people since it was ignited by the Gaza war 14 months ago.

A dead bird lies at a damaged site, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Lebanon November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Yassin
© Thomson Reuters

 

That optimism was shared by Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib who expressed hope at a foreign policy conference in Italy that a ceasefire would be reached by Tuesday night.

Israel’s security cabinet is expected to convene later on Tuesday to discuss and likely approve the text at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the official said.

This would pave the way for a ceasefire declaration by U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron, four senior Lebanese sources told Reuters on Monday.

A woman walks past damaged buildings, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Lebanon November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Yassin
© Thomson Reuters

 

In Washington, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday, “We’re close” but “nothing is done until everything is done”. The French presidency said discussions on a ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah had made significant progress.

Civil defence members clear a road at a damaged site, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Lebanon November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Yassin
© Thomson Reuters

 

The agreement requires Israeli troops to withdraw from south Lebanon and Lebanon’s army to deploy in the region – a Hezbollah stronghold – within 60 days, officials say. Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the border south of the Litani River.

Israel demands effective U.N. enforcement of an eventual ceasefire with Lebanon and will show “zero tolerance” toward any infraction, Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday.

The agreement with Lebanon will maintain Israel’s freedom of operation there to act in defence to remove threats posed by Hezbollah and enable displaced residents to return safely to their homes in northern Israel, Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer told Reuters.

The proposal has already won approval in Beirut, where Lebanon’s deputy parliament speaker Elias Bou Saab told Reuters on Monday there were no serious obstacles left to start implementing it – unless Netanyahu changed his mind.

Signs of a diplomatic breakthrough have been accompanied by a military escalation. Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday demolished more of Beirut’s Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs, while the armed group has kept up rocket fire into Israel.

The widespread destruction left by Israeli airstrikes has brought into focus a huge reconstruction bill awaiting cash-strapped Lebanon, with more than 1 million people displaced and many left homeless heading into winter.

Men stand at a damaged site, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Lebanon November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Yassin
© Thomson Reuters

 

In Israel, a ceasefire will pave the way for 60,000 people to return to homes in the north, which they evacuated as Hezbollah began firing rockets in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas a day after that group’s Oct. 7, 2023 assault.

‘THE MISSILES ARE CHASING US’

Israel has dealt Hezbollah massive blows since going on the offensive against the group in September, killing its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and other top commanders, and pounding areas of Lebanon where the group holds sway.

“Regarding the ceasefire, I think it will be implemented. Both sides are tired – both sides are tired,” said Selim Ayoub, a 37-year-old mechanic from Beirut’s southern suburbs.

Hezbollah launched some 250 rockets on Sunday in one of its heaviest barrages yet. The northern Israeli city of Nahariya came under more rocket fire overnight.

“As we were about to sleep, we suddenly heard a huge explosion, the window in our fortified room was shaking,” said Ofir Ben David, who was evacuated earlier in the conflict from the Israeli community of Shomera on the Lebanese border.

“The missiles are chasing us all the time.”

Diplomacy to end the fighting has focused on restoring a ceasefire based on U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the last major war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006.

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said on Monday that Israel would maintain an ability to strike southern Lebanon under any agreement.

Lebanon has previously objected to Israel being granted such a right, and Lebanese officials have said such language is not included in the draft proposal.

Two Israeli officials told Reuters that Israel has a side agreement with the U.S. allowing it to take action in Lebanon against “imminent threats.”

Senior Hezbollah official Mohammad Raad, writing in a Lebanese newspaper on Tuesday, said it was unlikely Israel would “accept any talk about halting its aggression against Lebanon without pressure or without exhausting the option of using force on the ground”.

“However, we will wait and see the results of the indirect negotiations,” he wrote.

Hezbollah, seen as a terrorist group by Washington, has endorsed its ally Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to negotiate.

DEATH TOLL

Over the past year, more than 3,750 people have been killed in Lebanon and over one million have been forced from their homes, according to Lebanon’s health ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its figures.

Hezbollah strikes have killed 45 civilians in northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. At least 73 Israeli soldiers have been killed in northern Israel, the Golan Heights and in combat in southern Lebanon, according to Israeli authorities.

Biden’s administration, which leaves office in January, has emphasised diplomacy to end the Lebanon conflict, even as all negotiations to halt the parallel war in Gaza are frozen.

U.S. Middle East envoy Brett McGurk will be in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to discuss using a potential Lebanon ceasefire as a catalyst for a deal to end hostilities in Gaza, the White House said.

(This story has been corrected to fix the event at which the Lebanese foreign minister was speaking, in paragraph 2)

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‘If I Don’t Confess I Will die’ – Doris Ogala Leaks Video Call With Pastor Chris Okafor (Watch)

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Nollywood actress, Doris Ogala, has released a video call claiming it is one of his numerous conversations with the embattled Pastor of Grace Nation International, Chris Okafor.

The video shared on her Instagram page captured Pastor Chris in a brown suit and red tie inside what appeared to be an office, while Doris was lying on her bed during the call.

The movie star said the recording captured her touching her breast during the conversation, stressing that the video was only a sample and promised to release a longer version and additional recordings.

Doris Oga stressed that she has reached her limit and was ready to expose more evidence because she will die if she does not confess.

She wrote, “I get enough. I go even post audition. This na sample. Thank you for this opportunity once again. In this screen record. I was touching my breast. I will post the full one with audio. I know you enjoyed the little fame. I will be responding with my boyfriends friend audios and video. This is between me and Chris.

“Don’t worry i will be very fast.. even where both of us were naked . I have it .. don’t u know if I don’t confess I will die. Do you think this is a joke. God say I should confess everything i was naked here. He was trying to make me fight with my friend. Our national president. Emeka rollas.

“This fight is not yours . Is between almighty God and Chris okafor.”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTxLrA6jVg5/?igsh=ZW9xb3B3N3kyZWk2

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Police denies alleged kidnap of 100 worshippers in Kaduna community

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Police in Kaduna State has denied the abduction of over 100 worshippers at Kajuru in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The state Police Commissioner, Alhaji Muhammad Rabiu, while addressing newsmen after the State Security Council meeting described the report as “mere falsehood peddled by conflict entrepreneurs,” that want to cause chaos in the state.

He challenged anyone to list the names of the kidnapped victims and other particulars.

The commissioner of Police warned rumor mongers to desist from trying to derail the prevailing peace in the state, threatening to unleash the full wrath of the law on such merchants of falsehood.

The Chairman of Kajuru local government, Dauda Madaki, while condemning the false report, explained that when he heard the rumour of the attack, they mobilized police and other security forces to the area, Kurmin Wali, but found out that there was no attack.

According to him, “We visited the church where the so called kidnap took place, there was no evidence of the attack. I asked the village head, Mai Dan Zaria, and he said that there was no such attack.”

He added that he also called the youth leader of the area, Bernard Bona who was interviewed by pressmen that accompanied him, refuting that no such thing happened.

The chairman challenged anyone to name the people that were kidnapped, saying, “I have been waiting for this list and no one has come forward with any name.”

He alleged that the rumor of the kidnap is being sponsored by people who are not happy with the relative peace that Kajuru has been enjoying since the coming of the present administration.

He advised the people of the area to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses, stressing that they should report any suspicious movements and rumour mongers to security agents.

The Commissioner of Internal Security and Home, Sule Shauibu (SAN), explained that the CAN chairman and other religious leaders have interacted with the people of the area where the so-called kidnap occurred, saying that they found out that what was pushed out to the public was completely false.

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Man Calls Out Babalowo ‘Ifayemi’ Who Allegedly Did ‘Money Ritual for Destiny Boy (Video)

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A Nigerian man has sparked widespread reactions online after publicly calling out a Babalawo identified as Ifayemi over claims linked to the death of late Afrofuji singer Destiny Boy.

In an emotional outburst that has continued to circulate on social media, the man accused the spiritualist of giving the young singer juju he described as “too much” for his age.

Speaking passionately, the man said he is still struggling to come to terms with the singer’s death.

“Ifayemi, I have not accepted that Destiny Boy is dead. If it is true, then you are one of those who killed him. What you gave him was too much,” he said.

He alleged that many young people are dying prematurely because some Babalawos give them rituals their ages cannot handle.

The man also questioned how Destiny Boy allegedly afforded a “N30 million plus car” despite claims that he was not financially buoyant.

In his words:

“Ifayemi, I have not accepted that Destiny Boy is dead. If it is true, then you are one of those who killed him. What you gave him was too much.

They said he only did ‘IFA’, and shortly after that, he went to buy a ‘N30 million plus car’. If someone does ‘IFA’, does that mean the person wants to do money ritual? ‘IFA’ does not make one rich. When you do ‘IFA’, it is your family curses that will be washed away, but that does not mean you will have money.

After that, they will ask you what you want. Do you want money? That is when they now do rituals for you. The type of ritual you ask for is what they will do for you. But ‘IFA’ and money ritual are two different things.

If you went ahead to do something heavy, you must have passed a certain age. These days, youth deaths are becoming common because what babalawos are giving young people is too much for their age.

Ifayemi, if they later bury that boy, it is you that killed him. The juju you gave that boy was too much. They said Destiny Boy did not have money, yet he was using a ‘N30 million plus car’. How much was he even getting from his shows?

My father is also a babalawo. If you go to meet my father and say you want to do ritual, the first thing he will ask is your age. If you say you are 20 or 30-something, he will tell you he cannot do it for you because untimely death is the consequence from ‘Ajonu’, and it will beat them to death.

Can’t you see that it is accidents killing most of them? It is only this one that died while drying up alive.

Someone told me just last night that he wanted to release a new album and asked me to help promote it. I told him we should talk this morning, and now today he is dead. Me, I have not accepted that this boy is dead o.”

See below;

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTq3SCWkrqG/?igsh=MWUxODM2azF4ajM5Yg==

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