Israel rejects proposal for temporary ceasefire with Hezbollah - Reuters
Photo: Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz (GettyImages)
The United States and France offered Israel a temporary ceasefire in Lebanon. However, Foreign Minister Israel Katz refused the offer, according to Reuters.
Katz rejected proposals by the United States and France for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon.
"There will be no ceasefire in the north. We will continue to fight against the Hezbollah terrorist organization with all our strength until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes," Katz stated.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement. It says that he ordered the military to continue fighting in full force in accordance with operational plans.
"This is an American-French proposal that the Prime Minister has not even responded to," his office said.
Shortly after the statement was published, the Israeli military announced that it had launched a new wave of airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.
Risk of a large-scale war in the Middle East
The deterioration of the situation in the Middle East began last year, but over the past few weeks, the confrontation between the Israeli army and the Lebanese group Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran, has escalated significantly.
The parties daily carry out large-scale attacks on positions and settlements in Israel and Lebanon.
In this regard, US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss efforts to establish a ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah.
