Key facts
- Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir suggested arresting Lebanese women and youth to pressure Hezbollah.
- The proposal was made during a security cabinet meeting where some officials advocated for escalating the war in Lebanon.
- Israeli forces have detained Lebanese civilians under the 'unlawful combatant' law, which rights groups deem a violation of international law.
- Despite a US-announced ceasefire, Israeli bombing in Lebanon has persisted.
- Lebanese authorities report thousands of attacks and hundreds of controlled explosions since mid-April, resulting in widespread displacement and casualties.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has called for the seizure of Lebanese "women and youth" as a tactic to pressure Hezbollah. Ben Gvir proposed this measure during a security cabinet meeting on Tuesday, where several officials reportedly backed escalating the conflict in Lebanon.
"Let's start thinking outside the box about Hezbollah," Ben Gvir stated. "Conquering territory and killing many terrorists, but also arresting their women and youth and taking them to terrorist prisons. That's what hurts them the most."
Since the 2024 war, Israeli forces have abducted several Lebanese civilians, who are among 1,316 individuals currently held under the "unlawful combatant" law. This legislation, enacted in 2002, allows for indefinite detention of Lebanese citizens without formal indictments, and rights groups have described it as a violation of international law, denying detainees access to legal representation and information about their whereabouts.
Despite a US announcement of a ceasefire in Lebanon, Israeli bombing has continued. During the security cabinet meeting, Israeli officials, including Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf and Defense Minister Israel Katz, urged Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to increase funding for military armaments to expand operations. Lebanon's Defense Minister Michel Menassa reported that Israel has conducted approximately 3,500 attacks and hundreds of controlled explosions since the US-announced ceasefire on April 17. These actions have resulted in the displacement of around 1.2 million people nationwide. The Lebanese health ministry stated that at least 3,637 people have been killed since the latest assault began in March, with over 800 deaths occurring since the April 17 ceasefire. Hezbollah attacks have resulted in at least 34 Israeli deaths since March, including 18 soldiers killed since April 17.