At least 22 people killed in deadliest Israeli strike on central Beirut since start of war, officials say – as it happened

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Diplomatic communications have intensified in the past hours, before a UN security council meeting discussing the situation in the Middle East, Lebanon's prime minister Najib Mikati said in a statement on X on Thursday, reports Reuters.

There are contacts taking place between the United States and France with the aim of reviving a ceasefire declaration for a specific period in order to resume the search for political solutions," he was quoted as saying.