Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel’s fight against its enemies in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip is far from over.
According to his office, Netanyahu told the Israeli parliament that the two groups are rearming and have not abandoned their goal of destroying Israel.
Netanyahu said that Israel is determined to enforce the ceasefire agreements with “an iron fist.”
Many in Lebanon fear a new escalation of the conflict between Israel and the Shiite militant Hezbollah.
Although a ceasefire has largely held for nearly a year, Israel accuses Hezbollah of rearming and has carried out near-daily strikes on the militia’s targets across the border.
With US support, Israel is pressing for Hezbollah’s disarmament, with US envoy Tom Barrack warning of further measures if the group does not comply.
Netanyahu credited military pressure on Hamas, including the Gaza City offensive, as well as diplomatic pressure from the US to isolate Hamas as key to securing the return of all living hostages and most of the deceased.
Critics, including relatives of the abductees, argue that a Gaza deal could have been reached earlier, potentially saving more lives.
Under the US-mediated deal, 20 living hostages and 24 deceased have been released or transferred so far. Four bodies of people abducted from Israel to Gaza remain unaccounted for.