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Bondi charges dropped
Australian police dropped assault charges against Ahmed al Ahmed, a man lauded for his bravery during last year’s mass terror shooting at a Hanukkah event on Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
“droppedassault chargesagainst a man lauded for his bravery”
The Times of Israel said Ahmed al Ahmed intervened in the December 14 antisemitic attack that killed 15 people, ducking between parked cars and grabbing one of the two gunmen’s weapon.
The Times of Israel reported that both assault and stalking charges against Ahmed al Ahmed were withdrawn after a brief hearing on Wednesday, and that his lawyer Mohamad Sakr said in June, "There is one thing that must be upheld, and that is the presumption of innocence."
The same article said prosecutor Danielle New told Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court that the case against Naveed Akram involved more than 800 witness statements and that more evidence had yet to be examined, with the case adjourned until October 28.
Lebanon security zone stance
Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli army will not withdraw from areas controlled by its forces in southern Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip, describing them as "security zones."
The Arabic-language report from التلفزيون العربي said Katz stressed that Israel will keep its forces there "under any circumstances," and that he stood in the heart of the security zone while speaking during a visit to a zone occupied by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.
It also said Katz described the army’s presence as extending from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the Schuf Castle and the entrances to Mount Hermon in the east, and that the Israeli army is present "to protect the towns of the north and to safeguard its forces."
The same report said Katz justified keeping Israeli forces in these places by what he called the "lesson learned from October 7," arguing that protecting civilians requires the presence of the Israeli army to prevent infiltrations and gunfire.
Shelling, redeployment, and disputes
The Palestinian Center for Media said Israeli occupation forces renewed their air strikes on southern Lebanon on Wednesday, targeting the town of Al-Mansouri in the Sidon District with an airstrike.
“renewed their air strikes on southern Lebanon today, Wednesday”
It added that Israeli forces exploded civilian buildings and facilities in Zotar al-Sharqiyeh in the Nabatieh District, and that the Lebanese army said ongoing Israeli assaults are hampering its redeployment across the south and the return of residents to their towns.
In response, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati rejected Israel’s justifications for destroying villages and towns, saying that considering entire villages as military facilities does not make sense.
The same report said Mikati stressed that Lebanon’s sovereignty, the security of its people, and the right of southern residents to return to their land and rebuild their towns are not matters to be negotiated, while it also cited Lebanese authorities’ reports of 4,335 killed and 12,277 others injured and the displacement of more than a million people.