Israelis in 28 communities near Lebanon border to be evacuated by army
Residents of northern Israel will be evacuated to government funded hotels and guest houses, as tensions escalate between Lebanon and Israel
An Israeli soldier hugs a woman near the border with Lebanon on October 15, 2023 in Ramot Naftali, Israel. Photo by Getty Images
This article originally appeared on Haaretz, and was reprinted here with permission. Sign up here to get Haaretz’s free Daily Brief newsletter delivered to your inbox.
The Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli defense ministry announced Monday that it will evacuate residents from 28 communities along the border with Lebanon.
According to the statement released by both parties, the 28 communities are located within 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) of the border with Lebanon. The residents will be taken to hotels and guest houses that will be paid for by the Israeli government.
The 28 communities are: Adamit, Arab al-Aramshe, Avivim, Bar’am, Betzet, Dafna, Dishon, Dovev, Ghajar, Hanita, Kfar Giladi, Ma’ayan Baruch, Malkia, Manara, Margaliot, Mattat, Metula, Misgav Am, Netu’a, Rosh Hanikra, Shlomi, Shomera, Shtula, Ya’ara, Yiftah, Yir’on, Yuval, and Zar’it.
Israel’s war against Hamas entered the tenth day on Monday after the merciless assault by Hamas that left over 1,300 Israelis slain and at least 3,300 wounded. In the Gaza Strip, where at least 2,450 Palestinians have reportedly been killed since the war began, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are holding hostage more than 150 soldiers and civilians, including foreign nationals.
On Israel’s northern front, tensions have escalated precipitously. Hezbollah began firing anti-tank missiles at Israeli military targets, as well as an Israeli community near the Lebanon border early on Sunday, killing one man and wounding several others. The IDF returned fire at Hezbollah targets and created a 4 kilometer buffer zone along the border.
Exchanges of fire continued into the evening, when the IDF said it was striking military infrastructure in Lebanon after eight people were wounded from Hezbollah fire. In addition, Hamas forces in Lebanon claimed they fired 20 rockets at Israel.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news. All donations are still being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000 until April 24.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
