UN Human Rights Office Spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani reported that of the 224 recorded Israeli strikes undertaken in Gaza between March 18 and April 9, “In some 36 strikes about which the UN Human Rights Office corroborated information, the fatalities recorded so far were only women and children. Overall, a large percentage of fatalities are children and women, according to information recorded by our Office.”

During a rally in Calgary this week, a protestor shouted at Canadian PM Carney, “Mr. Carney, there is a genocide happening in Palestine.” Carney responded, “Thank you…I’m aware. Which is why we have an arms embargo.” PM Netanyahu, seeing this recognition of genocide in Gaza, strongly criticized Carney’s remarks: “Canada has always sided with civilization. So should Mr. Carney. But instead of supporting Israel, a democracy that is fighting a just war with means against the barbarians of Hamas, he attacks the only Jewish state.”

Hundreds of Israeli Air Force reservists signed a letter to the government this week threatening to refuse to serve when called over the recent escalation of hostilities in Gaza and the failure of the government to liberate the remaining hostages there. The government responded by saying that the IDF had no need for those who “exploit their military status while simultaneously participating in the fighting,” announcing they would fire those who signed the letter, which is nearly 1,000 in total.

According to Lebanese reports, the IDF moved into the border village of Wazzani, but the LAF forced the IDF to retreat from Alma al-Shaab after Israeli forces crossed into the village’s outskirts.

Washington has instructed Gulf countries not to give Lebanon foreign aid until they have made progress in disarming Hezbollah. France has opposed this policy, claiming that cutting foreign funds could strain an already tenuous political scene and weaken the government.

Following this message, Lebanese FM Rajji agreed that Beirut would receive no foreign aid until the government established a monopoly on arms nationwide, indicating the government is likely serious about disarming Hezbollah. He added, “If Israel withdraws, Hezbollah will lose its justification for maintaining arms,” addressing Israel’s announcement that it would not have the IDF complete its withdrawal from southern Lebanon until after Hezbollah disarmed.

However, there may still be a discrepancy between Beirut’s plans and Washington’s expectations: Lebanon may only be intent on removing Hezbollah’s weapons south of the Litani River. This is a condition that would technically fulfill UNSCR 1701 and the Third Lebanon War’s ceasefire agreement, both of which stipulate only the LAF and UNIFIL will be allowed to maintain arms south of the Litani River in Lebanon but don’t explicitly state that they are the only ones that can maintain armament north of the river. President Aoun suggested as much when he said that he is “coordinat[ing] over the issue of Hezbollah’s arms south of the Litani River and over the mechanism that the Lebanese Army Command is adopting to remove Hezbollah’s weapons. There is also communication on certain levels between the president and Hezbollah over the group’s weapons north of Litani and the defense or national security strategy.” It may also be that Lebanon is pursuing disarmament everywhere but also recognizes it may not be able to achieve it in political negotiations. Suppose the government will only remove Hezbollah’s capabilities south of the Litani. In that case, it’s also possible it won’t pursue disarmament as such but rather require Hezbollah’s military organs to move north and away from Israel.

Visiting the port of Beirut today, President Aoun addressed applicants, saying, “I want to tell you that I am aware of the difficulties you are facing. I also want to emphasize that anyone who covers up corruption is complicit in it. You must be our eyes—if you notice anything wrong, you must report it to me and to the Interior Minister.” The port of Beirut has been seen as a symbol of the detriment brought on Lebanon by the government’s corruption following an explosion from a chemical plant there in 2020 that destroyed a large portion of the city.

Syrian interim President al-Sharaa announced that he has granted the special investigation committee for the recent genocidal massacres of hundreds of Alawites in western Syria a non-renewable, three-month extension to produce a final report.