Israeli Defense Minister Announces Transfer of Military Operations 'Center of Gravity' to Northern Border

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that the 'center of gravity' of Israel's military operations is being transferred to the northern borders of the country. This statement came two days after he visited Gaza and indicated that it was time to shift focus northward. On Tuesday, September 21, after inspecting the readiness of the Israeli army at the northern border with southern Lebanon, Gallant stated, 'We have reached the final stage of training all forces for ground operations (in Lebanon) in all aspects.' He addressed reserve forces nearby, saying, 'I have given the orders you are waiting for in the south, and I see that the forces are working on it.' Gallant's remarks coincided with ongoing severe border clashes between Israel and Hezbollah throughout the week, with reports of at least 40 deaths in an attack on a Gaza refugee camp. He further stated, 'The center of gravity is moving north; we are nearing the completion of our missions in the south, but we have an unfinished task here, which is to change the security situation and return residents to their homes.' According to Channel 12, the army has informed the cabinet that it is prepared for any eventuality, and the decision to launch an attack in Lebanon against Hezbollah rests with the political leadership. On Tuesday, the Israeli army announced it had attacked 30 Hezbollah targets in various locations in southern Lebanon in response to continued Hezbollah actions, including rocket fire into northern Israel and multiple drones sent toward the area. Hezbollah's attacks on northern Israel began in support of the extremist group Hamas following Hamas's surprise attack on Israel on October 7 last year and continue to this day. Both groups are designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S. and the EU but are supported by Tehran, Israel's main regional adversary. Over the past 11 months, 26 civilians and 20 to 24 soldiers have been killed on the Israeli side of the northern border, with tens of thousands of Israelis displaced from their homes to hotels in other cities. Hezbollah has reportedly lost 434 of its forces due to Israeli army attacks during this period, along with about a hundred other active militants supporting Palestinian groups in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah's activities have led to severe destruction in dozens of towns and villages in southern Lebanon and the flight of over 100,000 residents. The Israeli Defense Minister previously emphasized that pushing Hezbollah forces away from the border to allow the safe return of displaced Israelis is preferred through a political agreement rather than war in Lebanon, but Israel is 'prepared for all possibilities.' Hezbollah has declared a complete cessation of hostilities against Israel contingent upon the end of the war in Gaza. Reports indicate that, following the failure of U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari efforts, the prospect of reaching an agreement for the release of 101 Israeli hostages held by Hamas has dimmed, prompting Israeli officials to prepare for war against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Simultaneously, the release of a video by the Israeli army related to a tunnel where Hamas executed six Israeli hostages ten days ago has shaken Israeli society, increasing public and political demands for a deal to secure the release of the remaining hostages. Thousands of Israelis gathered on Tuesday evening in cities across Israel following the video's release, urging the government to work for the freedom of other hostages believed to be held under similar conditions in 'horrific tunnels.' Many politicians from both the government and opposition issued statements on the matter, and relatives of the six deceased hostages appeared on television programs. Leaders of a religious party allied with the government also expressed their emotional response to the video, stating they would support any proposal for a hostage release deal. Daniel Hagari, an army spokesperson, showed footage of his entry into the tunnel, revealing bags containing plastic bottles filled with urine and feces, clothing, and bullets found at a depth of 20 meters underground. He stated that Hamas forces likely killed the hostages during the last hours of Thursday, September 7. Hagari pointed out a significant amount of blood at the end of the tunnel, indicating that the hostages were executed there. The army spokesperson emphasized that the military had no prior knowledge of the hostages' presence in that area of Rafah and had not conducted any operations to rescue them. Hamas has conditioned the release of hostages taken from Israeli territory on a complete cessation of the war and the full withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza. The Israeli Prime Minister and his supporters emphasized this week that there is no serious proposal on the negotiation agenda and that Hamas has obstructed progress in any negotiations.