Returning residents to north Israel must be a war goal, defense minister says

Israel's defense minister on Thursday called for the expansion of the stated goals of the war in Gaza to include enabling residents to return to communities in northern Israel that have been evacuated due to attacks by Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.

"Our mission on the northern front is clear - to ensure the safe return of northern communities to their homes. In order to achieve this goal, we must expand the goals of the war, and include the safe return of Israel’s northern residents to their homes," said Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

"This will not diminish our absolute commitment to dismantling Hamas and returning the hostages," Gallant added, according to a statement from his office.

Hamas' Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel sparked the war in Gaza. Hezbollah opened a second front against Israel a day later and fighting across the Israel-Lebanon border has since escalated, threatening to ignite a regional conflict.

Many border towns in northern Israel were evacuated and residents have yet to return.

Gallant, at a meeting with top military officials, reviewed Israel's achievements so far in Gaza, where its aim is to topple the Islamist group Hamas and return Israeli hostages.

He said he would bring the proposal to include the goal of returning residents to northern Israel to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the cabinet.