Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett criticized the government's handling of security in northern Israel, particularly as Hezbollah escalated its rocket attacks, including a direct missile strike on Kiryat Shmona. Bennett described the government's approach as a return to a policy of 'containment,' emphasizing that residents deserve security comparable to that in Tel Aviv. He called for full operational freedom for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and greater regional diplomacy. Similarly, Gadi Eisenkot, former IDF chief of staff, condemned the government's failure to respond effectively, stating, 'This is not a ceasefire; this is a war with only one side participating.' He urged for unrestricted military action against Hezbollah. Meanwhile, Hezbollah's attacks continued, with reports of rockets landing in Nahariya and Karmiel, prompting IDF evacuation warnings for residents in southern Lebanon. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused Israel of violating Lebanese sovereignty while asserting that negotiations with Israel were the least costly option for Lebanon.