In a press conference held on Wednesday, senior Israeli minister Benny Gantz expressed his belief that the situation on Israel's border with Lebanon "must change," hinting at the possibility of military escalation with the armed group Hezbollah. Gantz, a member of Israel's emergency war cabinet, stated that the chances of a diplomatic solution to the ongoing exchanges between Israel and armed groups in southern Lebanon are diminishing rapidly.

Gantz emphasized the urgent need for action, stating, "The stopwatch for a diplomatic solution is running out. If the world and the Lebanese government fail to prevent the firing on Israel's northern residents and to distance Hezbollah from the border, the Israeli military will take matters into their own hands."

His remarks have sparked concerns that the current military campaign in Gaza could potentially ignite a wider regional conflict, drawing in Iran-backed groups, including Hezbollah. Since the commencement of the recent round of fighting between Hamas and Israel on October 7, Israel and Hezbollah, along with a few smaller armed groups operating in southern Lebanon, have engaged in a series of tit-for-tat exchanges.

Tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border escalated further following the Israeli offensive in Gaza, which resulted in intermittent clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah. These clashes mark the deadliest confrontations between the two sides since their full-scale war in 2006. The ongoing hostilities have already resulted in the displacement of tens of thousands of people in both Israel and Lebanon.

According to a tally by the AFP news agency, more than 150 people have been killed on the Lebanese side, including 20 civilians, three journalists, and a majority of Hezbollah fighters, since the exchanges began. On the Israeli side, 11 people were injured in a recent Hezbollah attack, while an Israeli strike on Bint Jbeil claimed the lives of three individuals, including one Hezbollah fighter.

Al Jazeera correspondent Ali Hashem reported from Bint Jbeil that Israeli warplanes were targeting towns even far from the border, causing the area to become an increasingly dangerous and risky warzone. The continuous anticipation of Israeli drones has contributed to the volatile situation.

Thus far, the clashes have been limited in scope, preventing a more severe confrontation that would exact a heavy toll on both sides and the civilians residing in border communities. However, Israeli officials have recently hinted at the possibility of taking stronger actions against Hezbollah, despite growing scrutiny of Israel's campaign in Gaza.

During a recent visit near the border, Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen stated that Israel may consider targeting Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, a move that would likely escalate the conflict with the well-established armed group that has close ties to Iran.

Cohen emphasized that while the diplomatic option is being pursued, all possible actions are on the table if efforts for a peaceful resolution prove unsuccessful.

The situation on the Israel-Lebanon border remains tense, with fears of an escalation looming as diplomatic avenues dwindle. The international community continues to closely monitor the developments, hoping for a de-escalation of tensions and a return to peace in the region.