Gallant says war goals must ‘expand’ to include safe return of evacuated northern residents

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant holds a meeting with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and other defense officials to discuss “expanding the goals of the war” in light of the fighting in northern Israel.

“The task on the northern front is still ahead of us, the safe return of the residents. To meet this goal we must expand the goals of the war. I will bring the issue before the prime minister and the cabinet,” Gallant says in remarks provided by his office.

Currently, Israel’s official war aims are dismantling Hamas in Gaza and returning the hostages abducted by the terror group on October 7.

However, the IDF’s efforts to return the estimated 60,000 displaced Israelis from northern Israel back to their homes amid Hezbollah’s daily attacks has also been considered a war goal among many officials.