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<a class="gmail-domain gmail-reader-domain" href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israels-ben-gvir-proposes-arresting-lebanese-women-and-youth-pressure-hezbollah">middleeasteye.net</a>
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<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">Israel's Ben Gvir calls for abducting Lebanese 'women and youth' to pressure Hezbollah</h1>
<div class="gmail-credits gmail-reader-credits">Mera Aladam</div>
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<div class="gmail-reader-estimated-time" dir="ltr">June 9, 2026</div>
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<p>Minister makes suggestion during a security cabinet meeting, where several officials backed escalating the war on Lebanon</p>
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<img width="453" height="255" src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/styles/max_2600x2600/public/images-story/israel-itamar-ben-gvir-national-security-minister-jerusalem-15-april-2026-reuters.jpg.jpg?itok=bMH38YJ7" alt="Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir speaks to press in Jerusalem, 15 April, 2026 (Ronen Zvulun/Reuters)" style="margin-right: 0px;">
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<p>Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir speaks to press in Jerusalem, 15 April 2026 (Ronen Zvulun/Reuters)</p>
<p><span>Published date:</span> 9 June 2026 12:32 BST
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<span>Last update:</span> <span id="gmail-date-updatedago">3 hours 31 secs </span> ago </p>
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<div><p><a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/israel" target="_blank">Israel's </a>National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has called for the seizure of <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/lebanon" target="_blank">Lebanese </a>\u201cwomen and youth\u201d to exert pressure on Hezbollah.</p>
<p>The far-right minister <a href="https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-898784" target="_blank">proposed</a> the idea during a security cabinet meeting on Tuesday, where officials supported expanding the assault in Lebanon.</p>
<p>"Let's start thinking outside the box about Hezbollah," Ben Gvir said.</p>
<p>"Conquering territory and killing many terrorists, but also detaining
their women and youth and taking them to terrorist prisons," he added.</p>
<p>"That's what hurts them the most." </p><p>Since the 2024 war, Israeli forces have abducted several Lebanese civilians. The exact number remains unknown.</p>
<p>They are among <a href="https://hamoked.org/prisoners-charts.php" target="_blank">1,316 people </a>currently held under the \u201cunlawful combatant\u201d law, including Palestinians from Gaza and Syria nationals.</p>
<p>Detainees held under this legislation - originally enacted in 2002 to
detain Lebanese citizens not under Israeli jurisdiction for indefinite,
renewable periods - do not have formal indictments against them.</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/lebanon-rulers-surrendered-country-israel-this-is-no-ceasefire" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/styles/read_more/public/images-story/US%20Ambassador%20to%20Lebanon%20Michel%20Issa%20and%20Lebanese%20Ambassador%20to%20the%20US%20Nada%20Hamadeh%20during%20a%20meeting%20between%20Israeli%20and%20Lebanese%20delegations%20in%20Washington%2C%20DC%2C%20on%203%20June%2C%202026%20%28AFP%29.jpg.webp?itok=rv2u6GwB" width="400" height="250" alt="" class="gmail-moz-reader-block-img">
</a></p><p>Lebanon\u2019s rulers have surrendered the country to Israel - this is no ceasefire</p>
<p><a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/lebanon-rulers-surrendered-country-israel-this-is-no-ceasefire" target="_blank">Read More »</a>
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<p>Rights groups have described this legislation as a flagrant violation
of international law. It allows Israeli authorities to detain
individuals without a court order or access to legal representation as
well as withhold information about their whereabouts and conditions.</p>
<p>Despite a US ceasefire announcement in Lebanon, Israeli bombing has not ceased.</p>
<p>Israeli officials have called for escalating the attacks further and
increasing the defence budget during the latest security cabinet
meeting.</p>
<p>Israeli minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf called on Finance Minister
Bezalel Smotrich to "open his pockets " for the military and its
artillery. </p>
<p>Defence Minister Israel Katz endorsed the demands, saying: "The prime
minister made an important decision to attack, and we must expand the
armaments even further."</p>
<p>Lebanon's Defence Minister Michel Menassa said earlier this week that
Israel carried out approximately 3,500 attacks and hundreds of
controlled explosions since the 17 April so-called ceasefire announced
by the US. </p>
<p>Around 1.2 million people have been displaced nationwide as a result.</p>
<p>Israeli forces have also killed at least 3,637 people since the
latest assault began in March, including over 800 since the 17 April
so-called ceasefire, according to the Lebanese health ministry. </p>
<p>At least 34 Israelis have died from Hezbollah attacks since March, mostly soldiers, including 18 killed since 17 April. </p>
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