Israel's Ben Gvir calls for abducting Lebanese 'women and youth' to pressure Hezbollah
Israeli minister Itamar Ben Gvir has called for the seizure of Lebanese “women and youth” to exert pressure on Hezbollah.
The national security minister proposed the idea during a security cabinet meeting on Tuesday, where officials supported expanding the assault in Lebanon.
"Let's start thinking outside the box about Hezbollah," Ben Gvir said.
"Conquering territory and killing many terrorists, but also arresting their women and youth and taking them to terrorist prisons," he added.
"That's what hurts them the most."
Since the 2024 war, Israeli forces have abducted several Lebanese civilians; however, their exact numbers remain unknown.
They are among 1,316 people currently held under the “unlawful combatant” law, including Palestinians from Gaza and Syria nationals.
Detainees held under this legislation - originally enacted in 2002 to detain Lebanese citizens not under Israeli jurisdiction for indefinite, renewable periods - do not have formal indictments against them.
Rights groups have described this legislation as a flagrant violation of international law. It allows Israeli authorities to detain individuals without a court order or access to legal representation as well as withhold information about their whereabouts and conditions.
Despite a US ceasefire announcement in Lebanon, Israeli bombing has not ceased.
Israeli officials have called for escalating the attacks further and increasing the defence budget during the latest security cabinet meeting.
Israeli minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf called on Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to "open his pockets " for the military and its artillery.
Defence Minister Israel Katz endorsed the demands, saying: "The prime minister made an important decision to attack, and we must expand the armaments even further."
Lebanon's Defence Minister Michel Menassa said earlier this week that Israel carried out approximately 3,500 attacks and hundreds of controlled explosions since the 17 April so-called ceasefire announced by the US.
Around 1.2 million people have been displaced nationwide as a result.
Israeli forces have also killed at least 3,637 people since the latest assault began in March, including over 800 since the 17 April so-called ceasefire, according to the Lebanese health ministry.
At least 34 Israelis have died from Hezbollah attacks since March, mostly soldiers, including 18 killed since 17 April.
This article was sourced from Middle East Eye.
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