Israel has set itself the new war goal of repatriating the inhabitants to the north

Israel has declared the safe return of residents to the north of the country an official war aim, the Prime Minister's Office said.

The decision was made late Monday by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet.

Due to the almost daily attacks by the Iran-backed Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon, around 60,000 people were evacuated from northern Israel.

Cross-border fighting escalated on October 8, 2023 – a day after Hamas gunmen from Gaza launched a deadly attack on Israel – when Hezbollah fired on Israeli positions in solidarity with the Palestinians.

“The Security Cabinet has expanded the objectives of the war to include the following: the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes,” said a statement from the Prime Minister's Office.

“Israel will continue to work to achieve this goal,” it added.

Earlier, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said at a meeting with US envoy Amos Hochstein on Monday that the only way to bring the residents of northern Israel back to their homes was through “military measures.”

“The possibility of an agreement is fading as Hezbollah continues to cling to Hamas and refuses to end the conflict,” his office said in a statement.

“Therefore, the only option left for the northern communities of Israel to ensure their return to their homes is military action.”

Gallant's comments came at a time when there was growing speculation that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was seeking to replace him due to differences of opinion between the two men over the Gaza war.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned of the devastating consequences of further escalation.

In a statement from the US Department of Defense, his office said he “reiterated the need for a ceasefire and a hostage agreement and urged Israel to give diplomatic negotiations time to succeed, recognizing the devastating consequences that an escalation would have for the people of Israel, Lebanon and the entire region.”

Israel has repeatedly warned that it could launch a military operation to drive Hezbollah away from the border.

Hezbollah is a politically influential Shiite organization that has Lebanon's strongest armed force.

The group has not yet commented publicly on this issue.

Israel’s latest move represents an expansion of the country’s previously declared war aims:

• The elimination of Hamas and its military capabilities
• The return of all hostages taken during the October 7 attack
• Ensure that the Gaza Strip no longer poses a threat to Israel

In response to the unprecedented Hamas attack, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage to Gaza, the Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas.

According to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, more than 41,220 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since then.