Israel has exhausted all diplomatic options with Hezbollah, said the president of the Israeli National Unity Party, Benny Gantz, who is part of the opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this Thursday (26).
Israel “has exhausted all possible diplomatic opportunities to try to stop Hezbollah’s attack against the people of northern Israel,” Gantz commented to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a visit to Germany.
One of Netanyahu’s most prominent political challengers, Gantz left the government in June when he resigned as war cabinet minister after accusing the prime minister of preventing the country from moving toward a “real victory” in Gaza.
This Thursday, Gantz repeated the Israeli government’s speech, saying that the country was determined to dismantle Hezbollah’s capabilities.
He also stated that the country is ready to “hold the State of Lebanon accountable for the terror originating from its territory and facilitate a sustainable agreement that will ultimately distance Hezbollah from the border with Israel.”
Gantz’s comments come a day after Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, told reporters that his country prefers a “diplomatic solution” in Lebanon.
Still, Danon stressed that Israel would not hesitate to “use other methods to show the other side that we are serious.”
Understand the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah
Israel has launched a series of airstrikes on areas of Lebanon in recent days. On Monday (23), the country had its deadliest day since the 2006 war, with more than 500 fatalities.
According to the Israeli military, the targets are members and military infrastructure of Hezbollah, one of the most powerful paramilitary forces in the Middle East and supported by Iran.
The offensive reached several points in Lebanon, including the country’s capital, Beirut. Thousands of people sought refuge in shelters and left cities in the south of the country. Furthermore, a land incursion was not ruled out.
Hezbollah and Israel began exchanging attacks after the start of the war in the Gaza Strip. The Lebanese group is an ally of Hamas, which invaded Israeli territory on October 7, 2023, killing hundreds of people and capturing hostages.
Due to the bombings, thousands of residents of northern Israel, where the border with Lebanon is located, had to be displaced. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised several times to return these citizens to their homes.
On September 17, Israel added the return of these residents as an official war objective.
A 15-year-old Brazilian teenager died after an Israeli airstrike. Itamaraty condemned the situation and called for an end to hostilities. The Brazilian government is also evaluating a possible rescue mission.
This content was originally published in Gantz says Israel has exhausted all diplomatic options with Hezbollah on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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