14 dead in Israeli strike

ISRAELI air strikes hit a cafeteria and a home in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 14 people, medical officials said.

Meanwhile, in Lebanon, warplanes struck the southern suburbs of the capital Beirut after the military ordered a number of houses there to be evacuated.

The new bombardment on both fronts came on the verge of a deadline set by the United States for Israel to dramatically ramp up humanitarian aid allowed in to Gaza or risk possible restrictions on US military funding.

A group of eight international aid agencies said in a report yesterday that Israel has failed to meet the US demands.

In Lebanon, large explosions shook Beirut’s southern suburbs – an area known as Dahiyeh, where Hezbollah has a significant presence – soon after the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for 11 houses there.