JERUSALEM

Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened on Sunday to reoccupy southern Lebanon if cross-border attacks by Hezbollah persist.

“Give an ultimatum to Hezbollah. If it is not answered in full then launch a defensive attack including ground entry and an Israeli takeover of southern Lebanon,” Smotrich said in statements carried by Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.

There was no comment from Hezbollah on the Israeli minister’s threat.

On the Gaza Strip, Smotrich called on the Israeli Cabinet to decide on a permanent military presence in the entire territory and control of the enclave.

"We need to complete the operation along the Philadelphi Axis in order to prevent the continuation of arms smuggling from Egypt, to cut off the Hamas oxygen pipeline and not allow him to rehabilitate,” the minister added.

Israel continued its brutal offensive on Gaza despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.

Nearly 35,400 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, the vast majority being women and children, and over 79,300 others injured since October following an attack by Hamas.

More than seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel is accused of “genocide” at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered Tel Aviv to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi