The death toll in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict has risen to 1,100 Palestinians, with 5,339 injured, according to the Gaza health ministry. In response, Hamas launched attacks that have resulted in 1,200 Israeli deaths and over 2,700 injuries, as reported by the Israeli military.
Amid escalating tensions, the far-right national security minister of Israel has announced that every resident of Sderot, a city located less than 4km from the Gaza Strip, will be allowed to bear arms. Itamr Ben-Givr stated that this decision was a response to the attacks launched by Hamas. Following the announcement, the national security ministry reported a surge in applications for firearm licenses, with approximately 10,600 new applications submitted since Saturday. Mr. Ben-Gvir also mentioned that this rule change could be extended to additional towns.
There are growing concerns that Israel may face a two-front war if a Lebanese militant group, such as Hezbollah, takes advantage of the current situation. Hezbollah has already admitted to launching attacks on Israel, and reports indicate that hostile aircraft have entered from Lebanon, prompting citizens in the north of the country to take cover. Mark Regev, a senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expressed the country’s concerns about Hezbollah’s escalating involvement. He stated that while Israel does not want to see an escalation in the north, they are prepared and ready to fight a two-front war if necessary.
Regev emphasised that Israel aims to come out of this conflict with a “different reality” and that Gaza will “not be the same.” He pledged that the war will finish on Israel’s terms, suggesting a radical change in the situation in Gaza. However, Regev declined to comment on whether Israel would re-occupy the area, citing military tactics.
In the midst of these developments, residents of Ma’alot-Tarshiha, a northern town in Israel, have been instructed to stay at home and lock their doors due to a “possible infiltration.” This warning follows the earlier directive for citizens in the north to seek shelter after the entry of hostile aircraft from Lebanon.
The United States is closely monitoring the situation on the Lebanon-Israel border. White House national security spokesman, John Kirby, stated that the US does not want to see the conflict widened or expanded. He expressed concerns about rocket fire from southern Lebanon into northern Israel and emphasised that Israel’s interest lies in preventing a second front.
