‘It will be worse than Hamas’: order to evacuate strikes fear into north Israel

Residents pack up and go as state gears up for possible hostilities with Hezbollah at the same time as war in Gaza

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Amid the spectacular scenery of northern Israel, where the mountains roll away into views of Lebanon and Syria, it is deceptively quiet. At this time of year, the area is normally full of the last of the Jewish high holiday season’s tourists, making the most of the cooler weather to hike and go apple picking.

Instead, on Monday, the Israeli defence ministry gave an unprecedented order for residents of 28 villages and kibbutzim living within 2km (1.25 miles) of the blue line that separates the country from Lebanon to evacuate south. The state is gearing up for the possible outbreak of hostilities with Hezbollah, the powerful Lebanese militia backed by Iran, at the same time as the new war with Hamas in the blockaded Gaza Strip.