Israel Vs Hamas: Israel Lifts State Of Emergency For First Time Since 2023
THECONSCIENCE NG reports that Israel has decided to lift the “special situation” status in its southern region for the first time since October 2023.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced on Monday that he had accepted the military’s recommendation to end the measure, which will officially be lifted on Tuesday morning.
According to Katz, the decision “reflects the new security reality in the south of the country that has been achieved.”
“Alongside the return of all hostages, we are fully committed to achieving all the defined war objectives first and foremost, the dismantling of Hamas’s weapons and the demilitarisation of Gaza,” he added.
In Israel, a “special situation” on the home front is declared when there is a high likelihood of attacks targeting civilians. The measure has been in place in areas bordering Gaza since October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages.
According to figures released by Gaza’s health authorities on Monday, Israel’s subsequent offensive has resulted in 68,527 deaths and 170,395 injuries in Gaza.
Despite the latest ceasefire, which took effect on October 10, at least 93 people have been killed and 337 injured in the enclave since then.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed on Sunday that Israel would not seek external approval for military actions in Gaza or elsewhere, even under ceasefire terms.
“Israel is an independent state. We will defend ourselves with our own forces, and we will continue to control our destiny,” Netanyahu said.
