“The reality in the north has changed. We dealt Hezbollah a significant blow, moving from defense to offense after a year of defensive measures. The situation is now fundamentally safer,” Gordin stated. He emphasized that on October 7, Hezbollah sought to exploit the situation in the south, but today, “We have set them back decades. Their leadership has been nearly wiped out—from Nasrallah down to the last field commanders. Thousands of terrorists have been eliminated. We neutralized them.” According to Gordin, Hezbollah’s firepower has been severely degraded, and its Radwan forces—the elite unit of the organization—are no longer capable of infiltrating Galilee communities.
“The Mission Is Not Over—We Must Ensure the Threat Does Not Return”
Regarding the return of northern residents, Gordin stated: “There is a lot to rebuild in this region. The north will return to what it was, and this process has already begun.”
Despite the military achievements, Gordin stressed the need to ensure the threat does not resurface: “The mission is not over. We must ensure that our success holds, that Hezbollah does not return to the contact line, and that it does not threaten Israel with weapons again.”
He added that Lebanon’s leadership understands the need to take responsibility for its own territory, but Israel will continue to act to keep the border secure: “First and foremost, we trust ourselves. Lebanon has understood—and continues to understand—that it is in their best interest to regain control of their territory. Meanwhile, we will keep operating to ensure the threat does not re-emerge against Israel. We have learned the lessons from this war, and they compel us to continue in this manner.”
Rebuilding the North: A Key to Victory
In response to military analyst Yoav Limor’s question about the possibility of Hezbollah resuming hostilities, Gordin replied firmly: “If Hezbollah attempts to restart the fighting, it will suffer even more severe consequences, including the loss of its leadership.”
The IDF continues to ensure Israel maintains strategic dominance in the north, but Gordin added that “Victory in the war will not be complete until we bring back all the hostages from Gaza and resettle the northern communities.” Hezbollah has been defeated. The immediate threat to the north is gone, but we must ensure this reality remains for years to come.
Maj. Gen. Eliezer (Chayni) Marom commented during the discussion that “Most residents of Kiryat Shmona and the northern region have not returned, and it remains unclear when they will.” He noted that the Israeli government’s decision to allocate 12 billion shekels over the next five years for the conflict zone is a significant investment that can bring meaningful change.
Dr. Yifat Shasha-Biton, former Education Minister and now Vice President of Oranim College, emphasized: “The moment people return home is only the beginning—not the end—of the recovery process.”
Professor Salman Zarka, Director of Ziv Medical Center, highlighted the long-standing inequality in Israel’s healthcare system, explaining that the recent war has led to major improvements in the field. He noted that healthcare services in the north are in a far better position now than they were 14 years ago, but stressed the **need to continue strengthening the region’s healthcare infrastructure.
