Over 100 Israeli soldiers have warned Benjamin Netanyahu a “red line has been crossed” over the government’s war strategy and threatened to stop fighting.
In a letter addressed to Netanyahu and his defence minister Yoav Gallant, 130 soldiers said they would lay down their arms if a hostage release deal was not secured.
“If the government does not change course immediately and work towards securing a deal to bring the hostages home, we will not be able to continue serving,” the letter read.
“For some of us, the red line has already been crossed, and for others, it is rapidly approaching: the day when, with broken hearts, we will stop reporting for service.”
The group includes both reserve and regular soldiers, some of whom have served in Gaza and on Israel’s northern border since last year’s 7 October Hamas attacks.
It comes as Hezbollah targeted Israeli forces near the Lebanese border village of Labbouneh with artillery shells and rockets on Wednesday, injuring three soliders.
The conflict in Lebanon has escalated dramatically in recent weeks after Israel launched ground operations into southern Lebanon on 1 October that expanded further this week.
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Hezbollah has fired 12,000 weapons at Israel in past year, Israeli military says
Hezbollah has fired more than 12,000 rockets, missiles and drones at Israel in the past year, the Israeli military said.
At least 60,000 Israelis have been forced to evacuate their homes and hundreds of thousands to take cover in bomb shelters on a daily basis, spokesperson Daniel Hagari said.
“Hezbollah is storing their weapons under the cover of Lebanese civilians,” he added.
“The IDF is operating against Hezbollah with the clear goal to remove the threat to Israeli civilians and enable all residents to return to their home in Israel in safety and security.”
Alexander Butler9 October 2024 15:11
Spanish PM calls Israeli strikes in Lebanon an ‘invasion’
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez described Israel’s military offensives in Lebanon as an “invasion” on Wednesday.
“It is clear that there has been an invasion by a third country of a sovereign state such as Lebanon, and therefore the international community cannot remain indifferent,” the Socialist premier told parliament.
“We denounced (this situation) in Ukraine, we also denounce it in Gaza and now we are also denouncing the invasion of Lebanon,” he added.
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Two people killed in northern Israel by Hezbollah rocket fire, medics say
Two people were killed in a town in northern Israel that was hit by rocket fire from Hezbollah in Lebanon on Wednesday, Israeli authorities said.
Israel’s ambulance service said that a man and a woman had been killed in the town of Kirya Shmona. The military said about 20 projectiles had been launched from Lebanon in the barrage.
Alexander Butler9 October 2024 13:15
Underground weapons store destroyed in southern Lebanon, Israeli military says
The Israeli military said it had destroyed an underground weapons store found seven metres below a residential building in southern Lebanon.
“The soldiers located hundreds of weapons, including an underground weapons storage facility approximately seven metres under a home within the village where the troops are operating,” it said.
“Within the weapons storage facility, the troops discovered sniper rifles and numerous weapons.”
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Pictured: Displaced Lebanese spend another night on the streets
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