Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz announced that they have ordered the military to prepare for new attacks on Iran. Katz stated that he gave this order together with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Speaking on Dr. Gadi Taub's "Gatekeeper" podcast, Katz also made assessments regarding Iran's nuclear program. Claiming that the Tehran administration has not rebuilt the nuclear facilities hit in the attacks they carried out with the US, Katz said, "They first need to make a decision to restart it, and they have not made such a decision yet."
24 villages in southern Lebanon wiped off the map
Katz also described the extent of the occupation they are conducting in southern Lebanon. "I said that southern Lebanon would turn into Gaza and that we would apply the Rafah model," Katz said, arguing that the approximately 200,000 civilians displaced from the area would not be able to return home for "a very long time."
Noting that the Israeli army is systematically destroying villages with bulldozers and explosives, Katz said, "Ninety percent of the houses are now gone. Between 15,000 and 20,000 homes have been razed." Katz said that 24 Lebanese villages along the border line have been wiped off the map, adding, "There are no civilians there now. Only soldiers and destroyed houses."
Occupation in Gaza expands
Addressing the attacks and occupation they continue in the Gaza Strip despite the ceasefire, Katz said, "We are in the heart of Gaza. Not only are we still in Gaza, but our presence there is expanding rather than shrinking."
Stating that the occupied areas now exceed 60 percent, Katz said, "We will clearly and unequivocally continue to stay there. These security zones are now part of Israel's national security policy."
Regarding the destruction in the city of Rafah, Katz said, "Rafah has been razed to the ground. There is no place left for them to return to. Those who remain are trapped in tunnels. We later applied the same model in Beit Hanoun, Khan Younis, and other places."
