BEIRUT: Israel flatly rejected on Thursday (Sep 26) a push led by key backer the United States for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon, vowing to keep fighting Hezbollah militants “until victory”.Israeli bombing of Iran-backed Hezbollah strongholds around Lebanon has killed hundreds of people this week, while the militant group has retaliated with rocket barrages.
“There will be no ceasefire in the north. We will continue to fight against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation with all our strength until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes,” Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a post on X.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he had “not even responded” to the truce proposal, and that he had ordered the military “to continue the fighting with full force”.
The United States, France and other allies called for a 21-day halt, after President Joe Biden and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The situation in Lebanon has become “intolerable” and “is in nobody’s interest, neither of the people of Israel nor of the people of Lebanon”, their joint statement said.
Despite the comments from Israeli officials, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Thursday that “the statement was indeed coordinated with the Israeli side.”
The violence showed little signs of abating, with the Israeli military announcing more strikes on southern Lebanon and Hezbollah saying its fighters had launched dozens of rockets at northern Israel late Thursday.
The Israeli defence ministry announced that it had secured a new US$8.7-billion aid package from the United States to support the country’s ongoing military efforts, underlining Washington’s unwillingness to use its military aid as leverage for a ceasefire.
AFP
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