IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi Reviews Plans (IDF website)
Israel is ordering the evacuation of all civilians from areas located within two kilometers (1.2 miles) of its border with Lebanon. This order came after the terrorist organization Hezbollah fired on areas within Israel from its bases within Lebanon and rockets were even fired at Israel from Syrian territory.
Israel’s Ministry of Defense Yoav Gallant and the Israel Defense Forces Monday morning issued a joint statement ordering the evacuation.
The Israel Ministry of Defense’s National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the commencement of a national initiative to evacuate Israeli residents living within 2 kilometers of the Israeli-Lebanese border in 28 towns to guesthouses subsidized by the state.
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The evacuation zone covers cities like Metula, Qiryat Shemona, Rosh Hanikra, as well as many kibbutzim located right on the border with Lebanon. The total number of towns and settlements to be evacuated is 28. The number even includes Arab towns.
Many of the area’s residents had already fled after rockets were fired at their homes by Hezbollah.
On Sunday morning, Arab-Israeli construction worker Mofid Sanono was killed by a Hezbollah anti-tank rocket fired from Lebanon and two other people were injured in the attack at the town of Shtula, which is on the Israel-Lebanon border.
Also on Sunday, the IDF reported that one of its posts on the Lebanese border came under anti-tank fire from Lebanon. The IDF responded by attacking the area in Lebanon from which the anti-tank missiles were launched towards the IDF post on the Lebanese border. The IDF attacked with helicopter gunships as well as artillery fire.
The implementation of the program was approved by Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant. The IDF Northern Command recently notified the heads of the local municipalities regarding the decision. The program will be led by the local municipalities, the Interior Ministry, and the Ministry of Defense.
At the same time, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement denying reports that a ceasefire had been agreed to in Gaza. The one line statement said simply, “There is no ceasefire.”
