New Israeli defense minister outlines top priorities
Israel Katz, who was recently appointed as Defense Minister by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, considers the return of hostages held in Gaza a top priority.
"I want to thank Prime Minister Netanyahu for the trust he has placed in me by appointing me as Defense Minister. Together we will advance to defeat our enemies and achieve the goals of the war: the return of the kidnapped, which is the most important task, the destruction of Hamas in Gaza, the defeat of Hezbollah in Lebanon, the containment of Iranian aggression and the safe return of the people of northern and southern Israel to their homes," Katz wrote on the X social network.
Earlier on November 5, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and appointed Foreign Minister Israel Katz in his place. He also asked Gideon Saar, a minister with no specific duties, to take over the country's foreign minister position. According to the Ynet news channel, the new appointments will be submitted to the government for approval on November 7.
Tensions in the Middle East flared up again on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israeli territory from Gaza, killing residents of Israeli border settlements and taking more than 250 hostages. Hamas described its attack as retaliation for Israeli aggression against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City. In response, Israel declared a blockade of the entire Gaza Strip, launching airstrikes on Gaza as well as several areas in Lebanon and Syria before launching a ground operation in the Palestinian area.
According to the latest data from Israel, extremists are still holding 101 hostages in Gaza.
On September 23, Israel launched Operation Northern Arrow against the Lebanon-based Shia Hezbollah movement, carrying out massive airstrikes on the movement's military targets. The stated goal was to create conditions for the safe return of local residents to Israel's northern border areas. An airstrike in Beirut on September 27 killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. The Israeli military announced the start of a ground operation in Lebanon's southern border areas on October 1.
