On Thursday, Israel firmly rejected a proposal led by the United States for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon, affirming its commitment to continue fighting Hezbollah militants “until victory” is achieved.
This week, Israeli airstrikes targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah positions across Lebanon have resulted in hundreds of casualties. In retaliation, Hezbollah has launched numerous rocket attacks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that he had not even responded to the truce proposal, emphasizing that he had instructed the military to “continue the fighting with full force.”
The call for a ceasefire came from the United States, France, and other allies, following a meeting between President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron at the UN General Assembly in New York. Their joint statement expressed that the escalating violence in Lebanon had become “intolerable” and was detrimental to both Israeli and Lebanese interests.
Despite these international calls for a ceasefire, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed that the statement was coordinated with Israeli officials.
The conflict shows few signs of easing, with the Israeli military reporting additional strikes on southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah announcing that its fighters had launched dozens of rockets at northern Israel late Thursday.
Further emphasizing Washington’s support for Israel’s military actions, the Israeli defense ministry revealed that it had secured a new $8.7 billion aid package from the United States, highlighting the U.S.’s reluctance to use its military aid as leverage for a ceasefire.
