Fearing Hezbollah rockets, IOF impose curfew in northern settlements
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Israeli media reports on instructions given to settlers in the North along the Lebanese border, stressing that they do not move to and from the settlements.
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UN peacekeepers patrol on the Lebanese side of the Lebanese-Palestinian border in the southern village of Kfar Kila, with the Israeli settlement of "Metulla" in the background, Lebanon, Monday, October 9, 2023. (AP)
Israeli media reported on Saturday that settlers in the North were instructed not to cross in and out of the settlements based on the Israeli assessment of the situation.
There were also instructions to set up roadblocks, close settlement gates, and prevent any agricultural work, Israeli media added.
Two days ago, Israeli media reported that Avichai Stern, the head of the "Kiryat Shmona" settlement, advised residents in a message not to return to the settlement.
Stern continued in his letter, "The residents of Kiryat Shmona should not have to return as long as the situation on the northern border does not change".
The Israeli media confirmed that the North is empty of settlers and it is doubtful whether it would be possible to rehabilitate it within a year or more.
Israeli media reported that settlers in the North were not fond of Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant's remarks. Gallant mentioned translating what he referred to as "military achievements" in the North into a situation that enables the return of residents to the settlements. The residents are demanding that "Israel" not abandon them.
Returning is a 'mistake'
"Israeli" settler from Kiryat Shmona:
— AoR News 🇵🇸🇱🇧🇸🇾🇮🇶🇮🇷🇾🇪 (@AoR3138) November 27, 2023
I have no intention of returning to Kiryat Shmona. If the Minister of War is talking about achievements against Hezbollah, let him bring his family and live there at the border and I and my family will live in his place pic.twitter.com/RkIuPaArzD
According to the Israeli newspaper Maariv, settlers were concerned that the ceasefire would end the war in the North, but it would not permanently eliminate what they refer to as "the Hezbollah threat."
The newspaper added, quoting a resident of the northern settlements, that “it would be a mistake for residents to return to their homes, while there is no strong deterrent to Hezbollah’s force.”
Prior to that, Israeli newspaper Bishfa observed that Gallant had forsaken the settlers in northern occupied Palestine. This occurred in the context of military operations conducted by the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, compelling the occupation to evacuate the settlements along the border.
It said that Gallant is "lying", stressing that if he chooses to bring back the settlers to the North, he would be deliberately "abandoning" them.
Israeli media confirmed that "Israel" is in the worst situation since its establishment, in terms of the conditions for opening a war on the northern front against Hezbollah.
Similarly, Colonel Kobi Maron in the Israeli occupation reserves stated that "Israel is involved in a war of attrition in the north." He added that Hezbollah is taking the initiative, while the Israeli "army" is in a 'defensive' position, only responding and withdrawing, since the cabinet has decided that the priority lies in the south.
Following the cessation of the truce and the resumption of Israeli aggression against the people in Gaza, the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon persisted in targeting sites and concentrations of Israeli occupation soldiers along the Lebanese-Palestinian border, resulting in direct casualties.
