Lebanon17 April, 20261 min read
Lebanon and Israel Hold Historic Direct Talks in Washington to End Hezbollah Influence
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Lebanon and Israel held direct talks in Washington, first since 1993. Mediated by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a Washington meeting.
Historic Talks
Lebanon and Israel held their first direct diplomatic talks in more than three decades on April 14, 2026, in Washington.
The session was mediated by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who called it a "historic opportunity."
The U.S. State Department said the participants held productive discussions on steps toward launching direct negotiations.
Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter said the Lebanese government made it very clear that they will no longer be occupied by Hezbollah.
Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad reaffirmed the urgent need for an end to the conflict, underscoring territorial integrity and full state sovereignty.
Divergent Death Tolls
Death toll estimates diverged sharply among sources. The Bangladeshi government and Reuters placed the figure at 28. The Dhaka Tribune and Guardian at 33.
Al Jazeera correspondents counted at least 41. Fire service chief Mahmud Iqbal said most victims were found near the stairwells on the third and fourth floors.
Survivors and Reactions
Survivors described workers pounding on locked metal doors as smoke filled the stairwells. Nasrin Begum escaped by jumping from a second-floor window. The Bangladesh Garment Workers' Federation called a nationwide strike.
Kalpona Akter said this was not an accident, but corporate murder. Labour Minister Tahmina Akhter pledged an immediate government investigation. Firefighter Mahmud Iqbal said 47 people had been injured.
Supply Chain Scrutiny
Rahman Textile produced clothing for several European fashion brands. Hessen's compliance team had audited the factory in March. Rahman Textile owner Faisal Rahman claimed the factory had passed its most recent safety inspection in January.
Clean Clothes Campaign said the audit system was fundamentally broken. Rahman was being questioned about allegations that the factory's emergency exits had been welded shut.
