Israel continues to strike Beirut as tensions rise
Newshour
BBC
4.2 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 3 October 2024
⏱️ 47 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
More explosions tore through the Lebanese capital today as Israeli military says it hit Hezbollah targets in Beirut. Israel has also continued to warn people in southern Lebanon to leave their homes - including in the region of Nabatieh. It comes as the Israeli army says Hezbollah has fired 200 rockets into Israel today.
One of the most senior leaders of Hamas - which is designated a terrorist organisation by the UK and other governments - has told the BBC that the current crisis they provoked in the Middle East, which has led to the deaths of thousands of people in the past year, is justified. The Deputy leader of Hamas, Khalil al Haya, said the October 7th attacks, which killed 1200 people, mostly Israeli civilians, were necessary to place the issue of Palestinian statehood back on the global agenda. He insisted without it, the cycle of violence in the Middle East would not end.
Also in programme: we discuss the UK government's decision to give up sovereignty of the remote but strategic Chagos islands after 200 years of rule; and whether the hit US sitcom 'Cheers' is set for British remake 30 years on. (Photo: Beirut Bachoura neighbourhood Credit: Louisa Gouliamaki for Reuters)
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello and welcome to News Hour from the BBC World Service. |
| 0:07.0 | Coming to you live from London, I'm Regina Videyanarthen. The sound of a conflict which shows no sign of letting up. |
| 0:20.0 | More explosions Officials say that Wednesday into Thursday, Israeli airstrikes on Central Beirut killed nine people. |
| 0:37.0 | The World Health Organization says 28 health workers in Lebanon have been killed in the past 24 hours. |
| 0:44.9 | It comes as the Israeli army says Hezbollah has fired 200 rockets into Israel today. |
| 0:51.2 | Well Israel's continuing to warm people in southern Lebanon to leave their homes |
| 0:55.7 | and have also urged people to leave specific buildings in Beirut this evening. |
| 1:01.0 | A telegram message from the military says, |
| 1:03.1 | for your safety and that of your children, |
| 1:05.2 | do not go back home until further notice. |
| 1:08.2 | Well, let's hear from someone whose family has fled |
| 1:10.9 | in recent days. |
| 1:12.4 | Tasneim Chabarn is a journalist who left Nabatea for the capital Beirut. |
| 1:17.0 | Within two hours I helped basically my parents pack their whole life into one backpack. |
| 1:24.4 | Their certificates, their university diplomas and degrees, their passports, some money, |
| 1:30.0 | a change of clothes for about a week and our pets. My parents have a cat, I have a dog, and we left. |
| 1:38.0 | When we hear about people having to flee their homes in these circumstances. |
| 1:43.6 | The reality for people living through it, |
| 1:46.4 | what happens? |
| 1:47.4 | Do you get told where you should go? |
| 1:49.4 | Is there a guidance? |
| 1:51.4 | We just assume that Beirut is going to be safer than where we are. |
... |
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