Israel sets new war goal of returning residents to the north

[Pelican Press 0]

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******* sets new war goal of returning residents to the north

******* has made the safe return of residents to the north of the country an official war goal, the prime minister’s office has said.

The decision was taken by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet late on Monday.

About 60,000 people have been evacuated from northern ******* because of near-daily attacks by Iran-backed Hezbollah in neighbouring Lebanon.

Cross-border fighting escalated on 8 October 2023 – a day after the deadly ******* on ******* by ****** gunmen from the Gaza Strip – when Hezbollah fired at ******** positions, in solidarity with the Palestinians.

“The Security Cabinet has updated the objectives of the war to include the following: Returning the residents of the north securely to their homes,” a statement from the prime minister’s office said.

“******* will continue to act to implement this objective,” it added.

Earlier on Monday, ******** Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said the only way to return *******’s northern residents to their homes was through “military action”, during a meeting with US envoy Amos Hochstein.

“The possibility for an agreement is running out as Hezbollah continues to ‘tie itself’ to ******, and refuses to end the conflict,” a statement from his office said.

“Therefore, the only way left to ensure the return of *******’s northern communities to their homes, will be via military action.”

Gallant’s comments came as speculation grew that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to replace him amid differences between the two men over the war in Gaza.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin warned of the devastating consequences of further escalation.

In a statement from the US defence department, his office said he “reaffirmed the necessity of a ceasefire and ******** deal, and that ******* should give diplomatic negotiations time to succeed, noting the devastating consequences that escalation would have on the people of *******, Lebanon, and the broader region.”

******* has repeatedly warned it could launch a military operation to drive Hezbollah away from the border.

Hezbollah is a Shia ******* organisation which is politically influential and in control of the most powerful armed force in Lebanon.

The group has so far made no public comments on the issue.

The latest ******** move marks an expansion of the country’s previously stated war goals:

The elimination of ****** and its military capabilitiesThe return of all the hostages taken during the 7 October attackEnsuring that the Gaza Strip no longer poses a threat to *******

******** forces launched a campaign to ******** ****** in response to the group’s unprecedented *******, in which about 1,200 people were ******* and 251 others were taken back to Gaza as hostages.

More than 41,220 people have been ******* in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s ******-run health ministry.

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