The chairman of National Unity, Minister Benny Gantz, visited the north today (Tuesday). During his visit, he received an operational review in the northern sector and met with the mayor of Kiryat Shmona and the heads of councils from the Hermon suburbs and Metula.
During his visit, Gantz said: "I am finishing a tour of Metula and Kiryat Shmona, and to start things off, I would like to strengthen all the residents of the north and south who were evacuated from their homes. We are all with you and behind you. You are the backbone of all of us. I have met with most of the heads of authorities in the sector in recent weeks and I would like to express my appreciation for the civic effort and leadership of all authorities."
"I also visited the Northern Command earlier," the minister said, "there and in the field there is vigilance, effective operational activity and a readiness to expand the campaign as much as necessary. I see Nasrallah's behavior and ask - has he lost touch with the reality on the ground, this is the question the citizens of Lebanon and the government of Lebanon should now ask. We will not return to October 6th. Even here in the sector, we are acting offensively and the goal is clear - to allow the residents to return here safely."
Gantz said that "in the south we are continuing to deepen and expand the maneuver. As you have seen, IDF soldiers are arriving anywhere in Gaza City where terrorists are, and will arrive anywhere in the Gaza Strip as needed. I wish to emphasize - even if a ceasefire is required for the return of abductees - there will be no stopping of the war. We will continue until we achieve the goals."
"I am aware of the justified and natural fears of the families of the abductees, we indeed face a cruel and inhuman enemy. Even in these days and in these moments, we are making all political and military efforts to return the abductees home safely. We are doing everything to return them all, by any means. We are not coming back until all the tasks are carried out, and we will continue to fight until the reality within our borders changes."