Israel on Tuesday said it had expanded its goals of the military operation in Gaza to include the safe return of northern Israel residents who were evacuated.

The evacuation was due to the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah along the Israel-Lebanon border.

A statement from his office said the decision was approved during an overnight meeting of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet.

The ministers updated the goals “to include the following clause: the safe return of northern residents to their homes,’’ the statement said.

On Monday, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told White House special envoy Amos Hochstein, who arrived in Tel Aviv to discuss efforts towards de-escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.

Mr Gallant said the window for a diplomatic resolution was closing.

Military action is the only way to achieve calm on the northern border, said Mr Gallant.

Tens of thousands of residents on both sides of the border have been displaced due to the fighting.

Hezbollah has said it would cease fire if Israel and Hamas agreed to end the fighting.

(Xinhua/NAN)