Live blog: ++ Drone apparently crashes over Golan Heights ++

Israel’s army reports a drone crash over the Golan Heights. Secretary of State Cohen has issued a sharp threat to Hezbollah leader Nasrallah. All developments in the live blog.

According to the Israeli army, a drone crashed near a village in the Golan Heights, which was annexed by Israel. The army told AFP that a drone had landed near the settlement of Eliad, but did not provide further details. Israeli media reported that a drone allegedly carrying explosives and coming from Syria was shot down south of Eliad late on Wednesday evening. Nobody was injured, there was only some damage.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq group, a group of pro-Iranian fighters with ties to fighters from the radical Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas, had previously claimed responsibility for an attack in the area. The group claims numerous attacks against US and international coalition forces in Iraq and Syria.

Israel has occupied the strategically important Golan Heights since the end of the Six-Day War in 1967 and annexed them in 1981. The international community still does not recognize the annexation to this day.

The departure of foreigners and Palestinians with dual citizenship from the Gaza Strip continues. Hundreds of people are expected to leave the sealed-off coastal strip for Egypt, according to a list from the Palestinian border authority at the Rafah border crossing. There should also be nine Germans among them.

Since the beginning of the Gaza war, hundreds of foreigners and dual nationals have traveled to Egypt via Rafah. Many of them are met at the border by representatives of their respective embassies, who then organize their onward journey via Cairo Airport. According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry in November, around 7,000 people from 60 countries were temporarily staying in the Gaza Strip and wanted to leave. How many there are currently is unclear.

In view of anti-Semitic incidents at German universities, Federal Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger is calling on university management to take more consistent action against hatred of Jews. It’s also about “exercising house rules up to and including de-registration in particularly serious cases,” the minister told the “Augsburger Allgemeine”. What was perhaps only thought and not lived before Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel on October 7th is now showing itself very publicly – even in universities, complained Stark-Watzinger. In Germany, these ranked “after the street, social media and public buildings as the fourth place where anti-Semitic incidents are reported most.” Stark-Watzinger emphasized that universities are places of maximum freedom, but they are not free of law. Of course, social debates would have to be held. “But anti-Semitism is not an opinion, but anti-Semitism is an expression of hatred and conspiracy theories,” emphasized the FDP politician.

Given the Clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli troops On the northern border with Lebanon, Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen issued a sharp threat to militia leader Hassan Nasrallah: Nasrallah “must understand that he is next,” said Cohen during a visit to the border area. Hezbollah must adhere to a ceasefire brokered by the UN in 2006, which obliges the militia to withdraw from the border area, warned Cohen. Israel will endeavor to exhaust the diplomatic option – “If that doesn’t work, all options are on the table.”

The day before, at least eleven people were injured in a Hezbollah attack in northern Israel. Since the Gaza war broke out following the massacre by Hamas and other extremist groups in southern Israel on October 7, there has been increased confrontation between Hezbollah and the Israeli military on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon.

Israel’s ambassador Ron Prosor emphasized that protecting the important trade route through the Red Sea is also of great importance for Germany. “What the Houthis are doing in the Red Sea is not only directed against Israel, but against the entire international community,” Prosor told the dpa news agency, referring to the Houthi rebels’ attacks on merchant ships. “As an export nation, it is in Germany’s interest that sea routes are free.”

He said: “Germany stands on the side of the good, democratic and responsible states. I am sure that a right decision will be made.” According to the USA, more than 20 countries are already taking part in the military alliance in the Red Sea. The federal government is still considering sending German ships.

The Israeli military says it is on high alert in the north of the country in view of increasing attacks by the Shiite terrorist organization Hezbollah from Lebanon. “Today we approved a number of plans for various contingencies, and we must be prepared to strike if necessary,” Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi said on Wednesday during a visit to the army command in northern Israel, according to an official statement. “The Israel Defense Forces and its Northern Command are at a very high level of readiness,” he said.

According to Israeli sources, Hezbollah fired rockets at the border town of Kiriat Shmona in the north on Wednesday. Israeli police said several buildings were damaged. People were therefore not injured. Israeli attacks on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon on the same day left three people dead, including a Hezbollah fighter, the Lebanese news agency NNA reported.

According to police, more than 60 people were arrested during pro-Palestinian demonstrations at the airports in Los Angeles and New York. In Los Angeles alone, where police say the demonstrators rioted, 36 people were arrested. “The demonstrators threw a police officer to the ground, blocked a road to the airport with construction rubble, street signs, branches and concrete blocks and attacked innocent passers-by in their vehicles,” police said.

In New York, police said 26 people were taken into custody for disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic at JFK Airport. According to local media reports, the demonstrators carried banners with slogans such as “Freedom for Palestine,” opposing Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip over the past 11 weeks.

The Israeli ambassador in Berlin, Ron Prosor, has warned of attacks by the Hamas terrorist organization in Germany. Hamas’ henchmen had long since arrived in Germany, he told the newspapers of the Funke media group. “Germany must remain vigilant: international terrorism is constantly arming itself – even during the holidays,” warned the ambassador.

Prosor complained that the ban on Hamas and the Samidoun network’s activities in Germany was correct, but it was not enough. Financial flows would have to be better monitored. “Not a cent of German tax money may be used for tunnels, weapons or terror,” the ambassador emphasized.

French President Emmanuel Macron stressed the need for a “permanent ceasefire” in a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This should be achieved “with the help of all regional and international partners,” said Macron’s office. France will also work with Jordan on humanitarian relief operations in the Gaza Strip in the coming days.

According to the WHO, more and more people seeking protection are crowding into hospitals in the Gaza Strip. According to a media report, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to the Middle East again. The developments from Wednesday to read.