The IDF said approximately 15 Israeli civilians damaged the border fence and crossed into Lebanese territory. Troops located them and returned them to Israel. The incident is under investigation.
Yesterday (Wednesday), approximately 15 Israeli civilians damaged the border fence near the Ghajar area and crossed into Lebanese territory. The IDF confirmed that troops located all individuals and returned them to Israel, handing them over to the Israel Police. The military condemned the incident as a criminal offense that endangers troops and disrupts operational activity, calling for the legal process to be exhausted.
The incident unfolded over several hours on Wednesday. Initial reports indicated that a group of girls had crossed into Lebanon, prompting a four-hour search (as reported at 17:45 Jerusalem time). A military source soon confirmed that all civilians had returned to Israel and were transferred to police custody. The group was later identified as activists from the Uri Tzafon movement, who claimed to have spent hours inside Lebanese territory. Police subsequently sought a court extension of the detention of 11 members of the group, including six minors, who stated their aim was to promote Jewish settlement in Lebanon. The IDF issued multiple condemnations, characterizing the breach as a serious interference with military operations and a danger to soldiers, and specifically criticized the police's handling of the matter.
The Ghajar border area has been a focal point of security concerns. As The Zioneer reported on June 29, Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that the threat of a Hezbollah infiltration from Lebanon remains real, with approximately 1,200 militants positioned near the border. The crossing by Israeli civilians, while not a hostile act, has been treated by the military as a grave security violation that could have endangered both troops and the civilians involved.
The legal proceedings are ongoing. The civilians have been placed in police custody, and a court hearing is expected to determine further detention. The IDF has called for the full prosecution of those involved, and the police investigation continues.
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