After a ceasefire with Hezbollah went into effect early this morning in Lebanon, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Kats said that the “ultimate goal” is the release of hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip.

“The results of the campaign in the north will put additional pressure on the (Palestinian organization) Hamas, Katz said in a speech in Tel Aviv. Israel “will make every effort necessary to create the conditions for a new hostage exchange and bring all the people (back) home,” he added, saying he saw this as “the most important moral purpose and the ultimate goal.”

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it struck “dozens” of Hezbollah targets in Beirut and the south of the country before a ceasefire in Lebanon took effect early this morning.

“Before the start of the ceasefire, the Israeli Air Force conducted, based on intelligence information, strikes against dozens of Hezbollah command centers, launchers, weapons depots, and terrorist infrastructure facilities in Beirut, Tyre, and Nabatiya, the military said in a statement.