A senior Israeli defence official said on Monday there was a "window of opportunity" for a hostage deal in Gaza during U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to the region next week but that otherwise Israel would begin its new operation in the enclave.
"If there is no hostage deal, Operation 'Gideon Chariots' will begin with great intensity"
A senior Israeli defence official said on Monday there was a "window of opportunity" for a hostage deal in Gaza during U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to the region next week but that otherwise Israel would begin its new operation in the enclave.
"If there is no hostage deal, Operation 'Gideon Chariots' will begin with great intensity and will not stop until all its goals are achieved," he said, following a decision by the security cabinet to approve an expanded operation.
Reporting by Maayan Lubell
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he had ordered troops to move further into Lebanon in the battle against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, despite a ceasefire announced more than six weeks ago.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has demanded an emergency UN Security Council meeting following Israel's seizure of Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, calling it a "major fault" and accusing Israel of violating international law and ceasefire commitments.
Israeli forces have reportedly taken control of Beaufort Castle, known in Arabic as Qal'at al-Shaqif, a strategically commanding hilltop fortress in the Shebaa Heights of southern Lebanon, according to reports emerging on Sunday.
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