Netanyahu says 'Israel' will prevent Hezbollah, Hamas from rebuilding “at any cost”

• 'Israel' carried out strikes in Lebanon and Gaza, saying they targeted Hezbollah and Hamas infrastructure.
• Gaza authorities reported 21 deaths in one of the deadliest days since the ceasefire began.
• Netanyahu accused Hamas of repeated ceasefire violations and vowed continued action.

'Israel' expanded its military activity on multiple fronts over the weekend, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring that the country would take “everything necessary” to prevent both Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza from rebuilding their capabilities.

Tensions rose sharply after 'Israeli' forces carried out a series of strikes in southern Lebanon throughout the week. The 'Israeli' military said on Saturday that it hit Hezbollah “launchers and military sites” as part of what it described as ongoing defensive operations.

Inside Gaza, Saturday marked one of the most violent days since the US-brokered ceasefire went into effect on October 10. Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that 21 people were killed and dozens wounded in multiple 'Israeli' airstrikes, as both Hamas and 'Israel' accused each other of breaching the fragile truce.

Netanyahu, speaking at the opening of a cabinet meeting, said 'Israel' would continue to target armed groups across the region.

“We are continuing to strike terrorism on several fronts,” he said. “This weekend, the IDF struck in Lebanon, and we will continue to do everything necessary to prevent Hezbollah from re-establishing its threat capability against us. This is also what we are doing in the Gaza Strip. Since the ceasefire, Hamas has not stopped violating it, and we are acting accordingly.”

The 'Israeli' military said a gunman crossed the internal “yellow line” in Gaza, the boundary behind which 'Israeli' forces had redeployed, and fired at soldiers before being killed. In response, the army said it launched new strikes, calling them part of a broader effort to prevent further infiltration attempts.

Netanyahu claimed that Hamas had attempted multiple times to break past the yellow line. “We have thwarted this with great force and also retaliated and exacted a very heavy price. That includes many terrorists we eliminated,” he said.

He also pushed back against suggestions that 'Israel’s' actions required outside coordination.

“It was an absolute lie that Israel needed outside approval before taking action,” Netanyahu said. “We decide independently of any factor, and that is how it should be. Israel is responsible for its own security.”

On Saturday evening, the 'Israeli' military and the Shin Bet intelligence agency claimed they had “eliminated the head of supply and equipment in Hamas's production headquarters.” The joint statement identified him as Alaa Haddadeh, saying he “operated to transfer weapons from Hamas's headquarters to battalion and field commanders.”