Israel’s defence minister has declared the start of a new phase of the war as Israel turns its focus toward the northern front against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
The head of Hezbollah’s Executive Council promised the group would respond to Tuesday’s pager explosion attack with special punishment.
Hezbollah began striking Israel almost immediately after Hamas’ October 7 attack that sparked the Israel-Hamas war. Since then, Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire daily, coming close to a full-blown war on several occasions and forcing tens of thousands on both sides of the border to evacuate their homes.
Gaza’s Health Ministry says more than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed in the territory since Hamas’ October 7 attack. The ministry does not differentiate between fighters and civilians in its count but says a little over half of those killed were women and children.
