Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Sunday that Israel will do “whatever is necessary” to prevent Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza from regrouping and restoring their military capabilities.
Over the past week, Israel has struck multiple targets inside Lebanon, while the Israeli military said on Saturday that it hit rocket launchers and Hezbollah military sites.
In Gaza, the civil defense agency reported that 21 people were killed and dozens injured during several Israeli airstrikes on Saturday.
Tensions remain high as Hamas and Israel traded new accusations of violating the fragile ceasefire that has been in place since October 10.
“We are continuing to strike terrorism on several fronts,” Netanyahu said at the opening of Sunday’s cabinet meeting.
Israel Expands Strikes Amid Ceasefire Violations
“This weekend, the IDF struck in Lebanon, and we will continue doing everything necessary to prevent Hezbollah from restoring its threatening capabilities against us,” Netanyahu declared.
“In the Gaza Strip, since the ceasefire began, Hamas has not stopped violating it, and we are acting accordingly,” he added.
Saturday marked one of the deadliest days since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect after two years of war.
According to the Israeli military, an “armed terrorist” crossed the so‑called yellow line—a boundary inside Gaza beyond which Israeli forces have withdrawn—and opened fire on Israeli soldiers. The IDF said it immediately began striking “terrorist targets” in Gaza in response.
Netanyahu claimed that Hamas made “multiple attempts” to cross the yellow line to “harm our soldiers,” adding: “We prevented this with overwhelming force, and responded by imposing a very heavy price. This includes many terrorists we have eliminated.”
Israel Rejects Idea of Seeking External Approval
Netanyahu also dismissed claims that Israel requires outside approval before taking military action, calling it an “absolute lie.”
“We decide independently and free from any external factor. Israel is responsible for its own security,” he said.
The Israeli military and the domestic security agency Shin Bet claimed that Saturday’s strikes “eliminated the head of supply and equipment” for Hamas’s central production network.
Alaa Haddadeh, they said, “was responsible for transferring weapons from Hamas’s central command to battalion and field commanders.”
