Gantz calls for continued ground operations in Lebanon, addresses Lebanese people

Head of the National Unity Party, Benny Gantz, toured towns in northern Israel on Sunday in light of the ongoing IDF ground operation in Lebanon. 

In his statements, Gantz said, "The ground operation in Lebanon must continue and expand so that the residents here [in northern Israel] will return and never have to evacuate again." 

Gantz also addressed the people of Lebanon and the Lebanese government, saying, "Your problem is not in southern Lebanon but in Beirut. The Hezbollah organization is a cancerous growth that has spread and trampled you over the years, and it is time to take care of it." 

Gantz resigned from Israel's wartime government in June 2024. He served as a minister-without-portfolio, and entered the government shortly after October 7 and the beginning of the Israel-Hamas War. 

Gantz calls for stronger action against Iran

In a separate opinion piece published by The New York Times, Gantz expressed his concerns over Iran's growing power and said that the world must remain proactive in addressing the threat posed by Iran to Israel and the region's future existence. 

In Gantz's opinion, he said governments must also prepare for the right moment to remove the threat of Iran developing a nuclear weapon, should that clear red line be crossed.

Gantz advised the continued development of coordination among Middle Eastern air forces while exploring the possibility of deploying offensive coordination if necessary.