- The military’s attention may soon turn to Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who declared that the battle with Hamas in Gaza is about to come to a conclusion.
- He said that the conflict would stop in Rafah at this point, but he is prepared to work with Hamas to return certain captives in exchange for a partial agreement. After a truce, Netanyahu reaffirmed that the conflict would go on “to achieve the goal of eliminating” Hamas.
- Netanyahu went on to say that the military will have the ability to move some electricity north for security and to repatriate inhabitants when the hectic phase ends. He would take them all home, north and south, if he could.
- Since October 8, Hezbollah, an Islamist movement supported by Iran and possessing one of the strongest paramilitary groups in the Middle East, has been launching deadly strikes from southern Lebanon against locations in northern Israel.
- Following Hezbollah’s attacks, Israel launched strikes that resulted in the deaths of several Hezbollah fighters, including top leaders. Because of the ongoing conflict, tens of thousands of Israelis have had to leave their homes.
- When asked if he would prefer a peaceful resolution to a fight with Hezbollah, Netanyahu responded in the affirmative. The prime minister said that if a compromise is reached, it would be on their terms, meaning that the conflict will not cease, Gaza will remain under control, and Hamas will remain intact. Following the October 7 Hamas assault, which resulted in the death of about 1,200 people and the kidnapping of over 250 captives, Israel began its war in Gaza.