Benny Gantz, the leader of the Israeli “State Camp” party, has called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to target Lebanese government facilities, including the potential bombing of the Lebanese Parliament building in Beirut.
In a post on “X” (formerly Twitter), Gantz, a former member of the Israeli War Council, urged the Israeli government to expand its attacks to include “Lebanese governmental facilities that have so far remained outside Israel’s range of strikes.”
He stated, “The Lebanese government allows Hezbollah free rein; it’s time to act decisively against its assets.”
Israeli Escalation Against Lebanon
Since the start of its aggression on Lebanon on September 23, the Israeli military has destroyed numerous residential buildings and killed thousands of civilians, the majority of whom are women and children.
Avi Ashkenazi, a military commentator for Maariv, suggested on Sunday that targeting the Lebanese Parliament building could serve as a symbolic move for the Israeli army to declare “victory.” He argued that such an act would allow Israel to begin relocating settlers back to their homes in northern Israel.
Ashkenazi claimed that “the Parliament building is part of Hezbollah’s political infrastructure and could serve as a refuge for its members.” He further proposed that the Israeli military could target additional sites, such as demolishing 10 or 20 more buildings in the southern suburbs of Beirut, to assert control over the area.
Discussions of a Ceasefire
On Sunday, a senior Israeli official confirmed that Netanyahu is conducting consultations regarding a potential ceasefire with Hezbollah. The discussions involve senior ministers and security officials, including the new Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, and the heads of Mossad and Shin Bet, according to CNN.
Recent days have seen increased momentum toward achieving a ceasefire in Lebanon, with a U.S.-backed proposal suggesting a 60-day suspension of hostilities. Amos Hochstein, the U.S. envoy, held talks this week with officials in Lebanon and the occupied territories.
Wider Context: Israel’s Aggression in Gaza and Lebanon
Following clashes with factions in Lebanon, particularly Hezbollah, which erupted after Israel’s assault on Gaza on October 7, 2023, the conflict has escalated significantly. Israel’s initial attacks on Gaza caused over 148,000 Palestinian casualties, including deaths and injuries, prompting a broader campaign of destruction that extended to Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, and other regions.
Since September 23, Israel has carried out extensive airstrikes across Lebanon and launched a ground invasion in the south, resulting in devastating losses. According to official Lebanese statistics monitored by Anadolu Agency as of Saturday evening:
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- 3,670 martyrs, including a large number of women and children.
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- 15,413 injured.
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- 1.4 million displaced individuals.
Most casualties and displacements have occurred since late September due to Israel’s intensified aggression.
Hezbollah’s Response
Hezbollah has consistently retaliated by launching rockets, drones, and artillery targeting Israeli military sites, intelligence centers, and settlements. While Israel discloses a portion of its material and human losses, military censorship has imposed strict secrecy over most of the casualties, according to observers.
