Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that Israel is facing a “multi-arena war” from seven different fronts. Gallant spoke during a Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting at the Knesset on Tuesday.
Quick Read
- “Multi-Arena War”: Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant described Israel as facing a “multi-arena war” from seven different fronts.
- Knesset Committee Meeting: Gallant spoke at a Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.
- Seven Fronts: The seven fronts identified are Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank, Iraq, Yemen, and Iran. Gallant confirmed Israel has already acted on six of these fronts but didn’t specify further.
- War Goals and Civilian Concerns: Gallant emphasized the importance of achieving war goals, highlighting concerns about civilian reluctance to live in areas near Lebanon and Gaza if they don’t feel protected.
- Committee Chair’s Remarks: Yuli Edelstein, the committee chair, mentioned that Israel is transitioning to the third stage of its military operation in Gaza, indicating a potential long war.
- Expansion of Ground Offensive: Reports suggest Israel may expand its ground offensive into a third section of Gaza.
- Bombardment of Refugee Camps: Palestinian refugee camps in central Gaza were bombarded, according to residents.
- Casualty Figures: Over 20,600 Palestinians, including a majority of women and children, have been killed since the war’s inception. The Health Ministry in Gaza does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths.
- Hamas Raid and Hostages: The conflict intensified after a raid by Hamas militants into southern Israel on October 7, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and around 240 hostages taken. Israel aims to free the remaining hostages in Gaza.
The Associated Press has the story:
Yoav Gallant: Israel is facing a ‘multi-arena war’ from 7 different fronts
Newslooks- JERUSALEM (AP)
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that Israel is facing a “multi-arena war” from seven different fronts.
Gallant spoke during a Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting at the Knesset on Tuesday.
“We have responded and acted already on six of these fronts,” he said. Gallant told the committee the seven fronts are Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank, Iraq, Yemen, and Iran, but wouldn’t elaborate further on which fronts Israel has acted.
Gallant added that without achieving the goals of the war, the country won’t just have an issue with people reluctant to return to the border areas with Lebanon and Gaza, but “people will not want to live in a place where we do not know how to protect them.”
During the same meeting, committee chair Yuli Edelstein noted that as the fighting progresses, Israel is “transitioning from the second to third stage” of the military operation in Gaza, but the public should prepare for a long war.
Israel is apparently preparing to expand its ground offensive in Gaza into a third section of the territory.
Palestinian refugee camps were bombarded in central Gaza on Tuesday, residents said.
More than 20,600 Palestinians, two-thirds of them women and children, have been killed since the start of the war, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants among the dead.
About 1,200 people were killed after Hamas raided southern Israel on Oct. 7, with around 240 people taken hostage. Israel says it aims to free the more than 100 hostages who remain in captivity in Gaza.
Currently:
— Lose a limb or risk death? Growing numbers among Gaza’s thousands of war-wounded face hard decisions
— An Israeli airstrike in Syria kills a high-ranking Iranian general
— Americans beg for help getting family out of Gaza. ‘I just want to see my mother again,’ a son says
— Find more of AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
