Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Thursday firmly rejected a ceasefire proposal with Hezbollah, dismissing calls from the United States and France for a 21-day halt in hostilities. The proposal, aimed at de-escalating tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, has sparked alarm in Lebanon amid fears of an impending ground invasion.
“There will be no ceasefire in the north. We will continue to fight Hezbollah with full force until victory and the safe return of the northern residents to their homes,” Katz stated on social media platform X.
His remarks dampened hopes of a peaceful resolution after Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati had expressed optimism about reaching a ceasefire. The U.S., France, and other allies had urged an immediate 21-day truce along the Israel-Lebanon border and pushed for a broader ceasefire in Gaza, following intense talks at the United Nations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, en route to New York to address the UN, did not immediately respond to the truce offer but instructed the Israeli military to continue operations. Hardliners within his government voiced opposition to the ceasefire, advocating for continued military action against Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, violence continued to escalate. Israeli airstrikes targeted approximately 75 Hezbollah sites in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley and southern regions overnight, including weapons storage facilities and launchers, the Israeli military reported. In one of the deadliest strikes, at least 23 Syrians, mostly women and children, were killed in the Lebanese town of Younine after a three-story building was hit, according to the town’s mayor, Ali Qusas.
The Israeli military also reported that Hezbollah fired around 45 projectiles into the western Galilee area, though many were intercepted or fell on open ground.
Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to ensuring that tens of thousands of Israelis evacuated from northern border areas would eventually return home. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich echoed this sentiment, asserting that Hezbollah must be “crushed” for the safe return of Israeli evacuees, and only Hezbollah’s surrender would allow for peace.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed calls for a truce but emphasized that its success depends on Israel’s commitment to enforcing international resolutions.
