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Cake day: August 7th, 2023

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  • It’s still there, just further down the page.

    Earlier we reported on the deaths of five health workers in an Israeli strike in Derdghaiya, southern Lebanon last night.

    The government-run Lebanese Civil Defence emergency service says the five workers were waiting in a makeshift centre in a church hall in the southern town of Derdghaiya when it was hit by an Israeli air strike.

    We’ve spoken to Father Maurice Khoury, head of the St George’sCatholic parish church there, who says those killed were “a model for humanity and chivalry. They sacrificed their lives for the wellbeing of others”.

    Father Maurice adds that parishioners and villagers tell him there was no military presence on church grounds, and no gunmen in the vicinity. He says he doesn’t know how the health workers “would have a target on their backs?"

    Father Maurice, who left the village on 22 September right before the Israeli escalation, says the health workers killed were looking after the 200-400 displaced people seeking shelter there.

    “The church’s two halls were filled with IDPs [international displaced persons]. The Civil Defense used to come with food, water and aid. They were the only one supplying aid to the IDPs,” Father Maurice tells us.

    He says one of those who was killed was “the pinnacle of generosity” while another “was a member of my parish. He was my right-hand man. He strived to provide a dignified life for his wife and three daughters. What wrong did they do?”

    Israel says it only attacks military targets and the town was in an area which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had warned people to leave.

    The BBC has approached the IDF for comment.

    With additional reporting by Joanna Majzoub.