Israel Katz's Warning: If Diplomatic Efforts Fail, We Have No Choice but to Remove Hezbollah from the Lebanon Border

Israel Katz, Israel's Foreign Minister, said on Friday at the Munich Security Conference that the world must pressure the Islamic Republic and Hezbollah to move away from the southern Lebanon border and implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701. He warned that if efforts to find a solution to reduce tensions do not succeed, Israel will have no choice but to remove the 'terrorist' group Hezbollah from the shared border. In another part of his speech, Katz stated that his country does not intend to expel Palestinians from Gaza. Regarding the clashes in Rafah, Katz said Israel cannot leave Hamas in Rafah alone and must continue to fight them. Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, on Friday, disregarding repeated warnings from Israel and the international community about the need to de-escalate tensions at the Israel-Lebanon borders, stated that Israel will pay 'with blood' for its attacks on Palestinian 'civilians.' Contrary to abundant evidence of Hezbollah's use of civilian sites to carry out rocket attacks on Israel, he claimed that Israel could have avoided killing civilians in the attack on southern Lebanon on Tuesday, which he said left at least 11 dead. Nasrallah's criticism of Israel comes as Hezbollah has forced dozens of civilians to flee their homes and killed several civilians with repeated rocket attacks on northern Israel following the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel. Benny Gantz, a minister in Israel's security cabinet, said on Friday that the war with Hamas may continue throughout Ramadan. He warned 'terrorists and Hamas leaders' that Gaza would not be safe for them. Gantz added that if hostages are not released, the war in Rafah will expand, and Israel is preparing for this in cooperation with partners, including Egypt. Regarding the displacement of over a million people in Rafah, he stated that Israel is directing them to safe areas. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, said on Friday that Israel's invasion of Rafah could result in an 'unprecedented humanitarian disaster' and become a 'turning point' in the ongoing war. Macron, who hosted King Abdullah of Jordan at the Élysée Palace, added that France, like Jordan and Egypt, is concerned about the displacement of Palestinians outside Gaza. He further stated that for France, recognizing a Palestinian state is 'not a taboo.' Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said on Friday that the expulsion of Gaza residents to the Sinai Desert would be 'catastrophic' for Palestinians, Egypt, and the future of peace. He noted that Egyptian officials have stated that assistance must be provided to Gaza residents. Additionally, a spokesperson for the World Health Organization said the organization is trying to access Nasser Hospital in Gaza. According to this UN-affiliated body, patients and the injured are present in this hospital, and fuel must be delivered to continue providing vital assistance. On Friday afternoon, a terrorist attack in central Israel resulted in the deaths of two Israeli citizens and injuries to four others. According to Israeli media, the assailant was shot dead by an Israeli citizen driving nearby. Kobi Shabtai, the Israeli police chief, and Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Minister of National Security, visited the scene. Reports indicate that the assailant, who was driving a stolen vehicle, opened fire on Israeli citizens at a bus station. He was a Palestinian resident of East Jerusalem and had a residency card in Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, stated in a message regarding this attack that it reminds us that terrorists who want to 'kill us all' are not only from Gaza. He promised that the war would continue until 'complete victory.' Following the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and over 240 others taken hostage, Israel launched a comprehensive attack on Gaza aimed at destroying this Iran-backed Islamist group. Hamas, without mentioning the number of its members killed as a result of Israel's assault on Gaza, claims that over 28,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed so far. The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, Israel, and several other countries have listed Hamas as a terrorist organization. Joe Biden emphasized the 'tireless effort' to free hostages in a phone call with Netanyahu. Netanyahu, after meeting with Burns and speaking with Biden, stated that he would not accept a Palestinian state. Blinken noted that 'very difficult' issues remain to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. Israeli officials rejected the idea of forming a 'Palestinian state.' Canada, Australia, and New Zealand called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. Hezbollah of Lebanon stated that it would take revenge on Israel. The German Foreign Minister warned about the humanitarian disaster in Gaza; residents of Rafah have nowhere to seek refuge. A U.S. congressman stated that sexual violence, rape, and brutality are Hamas's strategy against civilians. Israel approved the provision of Starlink satellite services at the field hospital in Gaza. Families of Israeli hostages urged the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for Hamas leaders. Israel's response to rocket attacks; media reports indicate that three villages in Lebanon were bombed.