- Sun August 16 2026 2:53 pm
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir expressed hope that Israel would be heading toward a military escalation in Lebanon, calling for “not merely thwarting threats, but giving Israeli forces greater freedom to operate,” and urging the government to “crush Hezbollah and target Beirut.”
Ben-Gvir also called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “move toward the complete occupation of the Gaza Strip and encourage emigration from it,” while continuing military operations aimed at destroying Hamas.