Israeli Ministers Press to Escalate Lebanon Campaign and Detain Lebanese Civilians

Overview

• Security Cabinet ministers on Tuesday pressed for a tougher campaign in Lebanon, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir urging the seizure of Lebanese “women and youth” to pressure Hezbollah and other ministers calling for strikes on Beirut’s Dahiyeh and territorial occupation.
• Israeli forces have continued intense air and ground operations since early March that Lebanon’s health ministry says have killed roughly 3,600 people and displaced more than one million people nationwide.
• The IDF has pushed more than 10 kilometres into Lebanese territory in the current offensive, the deepest Israeli incursion since the 2000 withdrawal.
• Several ministers demanded major increases in arms procurement and defence spending to sustain and expand the campaign, with defence officials backing calls for more weapons and artillery.
• The proposals revive use of Israel’s 2002 “unlawful combatant” detention framework, which allows detention without formal indictments, and come as strikes between Israel and Iran have produced reciprocal warnings and exchange of attacks that could widen the conflict.