Israel bombs Lebanon, kills four as Gaza residents face toxic alternatives amid war

Recent Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon have led to new casualties and extensive displacement amidst ongoing conflict. On June 8, 2026, four people were killed in Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling, impacting locations such as a shelter center in Zefta. This incident occurred within the context of the 2026 Lebanon war, which has been active since March 2026, causing over 3,500 deaths and forcing more than a million people to evacuate their homes.

Concurrently, residents in Gaza are compelled to use hazardous alternatives for smoking due to severe wartime shortages. With Israeli import restrictions significantly limiting access to tobacco, many have resorted to drying and crushing molokhia leaves, then mixing them with liquid nicotine to create makeshift cigarettes. Medical professionals caution that burning molokhia can be more dangerous than conventional tobacco, elevating the risk of cancer and leading to immediate respiratory problems like suffocation and breathing difficulties. This practice underscores the wider humanitarian crisis and adverse environmental conditions affecting Palestinians in Gaza, intensified by widespread destruction and blockades.