Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs, Israel Katz, dismissed US and French suggestions for a twenty-one day truce in Lebanon on Thursday. On being asked about his response, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu refrained from commenting but instructed the military to continue their offensive.
“No ceasefire will be observed in the north,” stated Mr. Katz on social network X, “We shall persist our combat against the Hizbullah terroristic group until our triumph ensures a secure homecoming for northern inhabitants.”
Concurrently, Mr. Netanyahu, subsequent to his departure from Israel to address the UN, asserted full force military aggression in harmony with operational schemes.
His office asserted, “An Anglo-Franco proposal to which the Prime Minister has not reacted.” Following this announcement, the Israeli army was said to have initiated another round of air strikes on Hizbullah in Lebanon.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of one of two nationalist-religious coalitions, advocated the obliteration of Hizbullah, voicing that only the latter’s capitulation would enable return of the evacuees.
“There should be no respite for the foe to regain strength after the crushing blows and to plan for war resumption post twenty-one days,” his communiqué read.
Right-wing National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s faction scheduled a crisis assembly for Thursday, with some members already voicing disapproval for the proposal.
Last Wednesday, the US and France, supported by other allies, suggested a three-week truce delineated by the Israel-Lebanon “Blue Line” thereby facilitating diplomatic resolution discussions.
Last week saw Israel’s fiercest bombardment of Lebanon since the 2006 conflict, resulting in over 600 fatalities, as cross-border fire with Iranian-supported Hizbullah escalated towards war imminence.
Hizbullah retaliated with scores of missiles aimed at Israeli destinations including economic hub Tel Aviv for the first time. However, the Israeli aerial defence system succeeded in restricting damage.
Finally, an unequivocal public admission was made on the prospect of a possible ground offensive on Lebanon by Israel’s army chief, who stated that soldiers along the border should anticipate crossing.
It was uncertain at first if these remarks anticipated a potential land action or formed part of a negotiation strategy to convince Hizbullah to retreat. Two additional reserve brigades were summoned by Israel to the north region on Wednesday.
Hizbullah and Israel have been involved in reciprocal attacks for nearly a year, following Hizbullah’s initial assault which occurred the day after Palestinian Islamist group Hamas struck settlements in the southern part of Israel on the 7th of October. (Source: Reuters)