After US special envoy Amos Hochstein met with Israel’s war leadership in Tel Aviv the day before, the security cabinet updated its official goals for the ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza to include allowing residents of the north to return safely home after being evacuated over concerns Hezbollah could launch a cross-border attack similar to October 7.
“Israel will continue to act to achieve this goal,” said a statement from the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, hinting strongly at the possibility of expanding military operations to get Hezbollah to stop firing.
Gallant was even more direct in his message to Hochstein, telling him that “the only way left to ensure the return of Israel’s northern communities to their homes will be via military action.”
Israeli media has been full of reports recently that the Israel Defense Forces is readying for an operation in the north, and military divisions have prepared plans for the use of ground forces in southern Lebanon. READ MORE
