17/9/2024–|Last update: 9/17/202403:21 AM (Makkah Time)
Israel has expanded the declared goals of the Gaza war to include enabling Israeli residents in the north to return to their homes, despite US warnings against expanding the war.
The Prime Minister’s Office said Benjamin Netanyahu The Security Cabinet approved the decision.
This came a day after the Israeli Defense Minister met Yoav Galant With the American envoy Amos Hockstein To discuss developments on the Israeli border with Lebanon, in light of the escalating dispute within the occupation government regarding expanding the military operation in Lebanon.
Channel 12 Israel said that Galant met with Hochstein in a last-ditch attempt to prevent a major escalation. Northern FrontShe reported that Galant told the US envoy that military action is the way to return the residents of the north.
It also reported that Hochstein told Galant that a large-scale battle against Lebanon would not return the prisoners and would put Israel at risk.
She added that estimates in Israel indicate that the chance of reaching a settlement in Lebanon, without a ceasefire in Gaza, is slim.
For his part, the Prime Minister said Benjamin Netanyahu The US envoy said that Tel Aviv appreciates Washington’s support, but will do what is necessary to return the population to the north and protect its security, adding that it is not possible to return the population to the north without a radical change in the security situation.
Hochstein arrived in Israel earlier on Monday, and after arriving in Tel Aviv, the Israeli Defense Minister informed his American counterpart, Lloyd Austin, in a phone call, that the chances of reaching a settlement that would end the confrontations with Lebanon are fading as Hezbollah continues to link itself to the Islamic Resistance Movement (agitation).
Israeli media reported in recent days that Washington wants to prevent the outbreak of war before the US presidential elections scheduled for next November.
For his part, the leader of the Israeli opposition said: Yair Lapid -After meeting at the White House with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan- The war fronts can wait, but the prisoners in Gaza They are not waiting, stressing that “the time of the kidnapped in Hamas tunnels is running out, and every hour that passes brings them closer to their death, and we must reach a deal to return them.”
In recent days, calls have increased in Israel to wage war on Hezbollah in Lebanon, coinciding with the escalation of its missile attacks on northern settlements, including those that had not previously been evacuated of settlers.
While Washington is trying to mediate a truce agreement between Israel and Lebanon, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah said on July 10 that Hamas is negotiating on its own behalf and on behalf of all Palestinian factions, and whatever Hamas accepts, we will all accept.
