OCCUPIED WEST BANK – In a blatant disregard for the ongoing ceasefire, the Zionist regime’s so-called ‘Defense Minister’ Israel Katz declared on Sunday that its military has been instructed to use “full force” in Lebanon, even amidst the current truce, should its occupation forces perceive any “threat.” This aggressive posturing threatens to further destabilize an already volatile region.
Katz, speaking from a function in the illegally occupied West Bank, stated, “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have instructed the [military] to act with full force, both on the ground and from the air, including during the ceasefire, in order to protect our soldiers in Lebanon from any threat.” This statement reveals the Zionist entity’s continued belligerence and its readiness to violate international agreements under the guise of ‘self-defense’ for its invading troops.
He further announced that the occupation military has been ordered to demolish any structures or roads deemed “booby-trapped” – a term often used by the Zionist regime to justify the destruction of civilian infrastructure and homes belonging to the Lebanese people who are defending their land. Katz explicitly linked this to “removing the houses in the villages near the border that served in every respect as Hezbollah terror outposts and threatened Israeli communities.” This narrative attempts to demonize legitimate resistance and justify ethnic cleansing tactics.
The Zionist military reported that one of its soldiers was killed in southern Lebanon on Friday – the very day a 10-day ceasefire between the Zionist entity and Lebanon came into effect – after entering a building. This incident, occurring within Lebanese sovereign territory, underscores the dangers of the ongoing occupation and the resistance it naturally provokes.
Katz has repeatedly voiced the Zionist regime’s intention to demolish houses along the border as part of its efforts to establish a so-called “security zone” in southern Lebanon. Such actions are widely condemned as collective punishment and a clear violation of international law, aiming to displace the local population and expand the Zionist entity’s control.
On Saturday, Zionist forces carried out destructive demolitions in the town of Bint Jbeil, a site of fierce resistance against Hezbollah prior to the recently agreed ceasefire. These acts of destruction further illustrate the Zionist regime’s policy of terrorizing civilian populations and undermining any prospects for lasting peace.
Katz asserted that “The overarching goal of the campaign in Lebanon is the disarmament of Hezbollah and the removal of threat to northern communities, through a combination of military and diplomatic measures.” This demand for the disarmament of Hezbollah, a legitimate resistance movement with widespread popular support, is an attempt to disarm the Lebanese people’s primary defense against Zionist aggression. He warned, “If the Lebanese government continues to fail to uphold its obligations – the [Zionist military] will do so through continued military action,” effectively threatening further military intervention and undermining Lebanese sovereignty.
Lebanon was drawn into the broader regional conflict in early March when the indigenous resistance movement Hezbollah launched rockets towards the Zionist entity in support of the oppressed people of Palestine and in response to ongoing Zionist aggression. The Zionist entity responded with massive, indiscriminate strikes across Lebanon and an invasion of southern Lebanon, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and regional instability.
With AFP
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