Tel Aviv [Israel], October 23: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is holding a security assessment at the Kirya in Tel Aviv with the War Cabinet members and senior security establishment officials. Taking to his official social media 'X', Israeli PM Netanyahu's office stated, "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently holding a security assessment at the Kirya in Tel Aviv, together with members of the War Cabinet and senior security establishment officials."

Israel declared war on Hamas on October 7 after the terrorist group unleashed a rocket barrage from across the border in Gaza and sent in fighters, who crossed over and broke into homes, killing civilians. While many of them were engaged by Israeli forces, some managed to sneak back into Gaza with more than 200 civilian hostages. Israel Under Pressure From Allies and Israeli Families To Delay Ground Attack Until Hostages Freed Amid With Hamas.

Benjamin Netanyahu Holds Security Assessment

Earlier, on Sunday, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said they had carried out strikes against two more Hezbollah squads in southern Lebanon before they could launch attacks on Israel. One of the Hezbollah cells, in the Mount Dov area, planned to launch rockets, while the second, near the northern town of Mattat, planned to launch an anti-tank guided missile, the IDF added.

This strike marked the sixth and seventh Hezbollah cells that the IDF hit on Sunday, The Times of Israel reported. It stated further that it was currently carrying out a wave of airstrikes against dozens of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. Also, earlier in the day, several Merkava tanks and troops were positioned by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) near the Gaza border in South Israel, following the government's announcement that it intends to launch a ground operation against Hamas in the "near future". Israel Says IDF Tank ‘Accidentally’ Fired At Egyptian Post Near Gaza Border, Expresses Sorrow.

The Merkava, a series of main battle tanks utilised by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), serves as the cornerstone of its armoured corps. The Merkava gained significant operational experience during the 1982 Lebanon War, and its name is derived from the IDF's initial development programme. Meanwhile, the number of confirmed hostages abducted and held in Gaza since the shock assault rose to 212.

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