Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, rejected the ceasefire proposal with Hezbollah on Thursday, September 26, following calls from the United States and France to cease fire for 21 days. The ongoing conflict has resulted in hundreds of casualties and raised concerns about ground attacks.
In a statement on the social media platform, Minister Katz declared that “there will be no ceasefire in the northern region. We will continue to combat the terrorist organization Hezbollah with full force until victory is achieved and residents in the north can safely return home.”
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalated sharply last week, sparking concerns over Israel launching a new round of ground offensives along the Lebanon-Israel border. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed hope for a swift ceasefire, as hundreds of thousands of Lebanese have fled their homes seeking safety.
Following intense discussions at the United Nations on Wednesday, the United States, France, and several allies called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire along the Israel-Lebanon border while also supporting a ceasefire in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York, stated that he had not yet responded to the ceasefire proposal but had instructed the military to continue fighting. Hardliners within the government argued that Israel should reject any ceasefire agreements and persevere in the fight against Hezbollah.
On Thursday afternoon local time, Israel conducted a fresh round of airstrikes on Lebanon. According to reports from the Lebanese news agency NNA, the southern and eastern regions of Lebanon, as well as areas bordering Syria, were targeted. The Israeli military stated that they were targeting Hezbollah terrorist objectives.
“The air force jets have just launched attacks on infrastructure along the Syria-Lebanon border. The terrorist organization Hezbollah uses these infrastructures to transfer weapons from Syrian territory to Hezbollah in Lebanon,” the Israel Defense Forces stated in a release.
The Israeli military reported that several Hezbollah targets were hit on Thursday morning in various areas, including militants, military structures, and weapon depots. Overnight airstrikes also targeted about 75 Hezbollah targets in the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon, including weapon storage facilities and launchers on standby.
Israel’s military indicated that approximately 45 shells were fired into Western Galilee by Lebanon, some intercepted while others landed in open areas.
Netanyahu reiterated the commitment to ensure tens of thousands of Israelis evacuated from the northern border regions can return home safely. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that Hezbollah should be destroyed, emphasizing that only through surrender could evacuees hope to return.
Israel expanded its airstrikes on Lebanon on Wednesday, with the Reuters news agency reporting at least 72 fatalities according to data from the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
A senior official from the Biden administration indicated that the ceasefire would apply to the “Blue Line,” the boundary between Israel and Lebanon, enabling both sides to explore potential diplomatic conflict resolutions through negotiations.
Ensuring the security of the northern border areas and the return of displaced residents has been a top priority for Israel. With nearly daily clashes between Hezbollah and Israel, approximately 70,000 border residents have been forced to flee their homes.
Following almost a year of conflict with the radical organization Hamas, Israel shifted its focus to the northern border. Last year on October 7th, armed militants led by Hamas launched an attack on Israel, triggering a war between Israel and the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave of Gaza. Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel from Lebanon the next day to support ally Hamas. The conflict along the Israel-Lebanon border has escalated sharply in the past week.
Since Monday, Israel’s intensified airstrikes have resulted in a significant toll. The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported over 550 fatalities on that day alone. Prior to the bombings, explosive incidents involving pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah operatives across Lebanon caused dozens of deaths and thousands of injuries.
Israel’s military chief indicated on Wednesday the likelihood of launching a ground offensive, raising concerns about further escalation of conflict in the Middle East. Both Hezbollah and Hamas are part of the armed network supported by Iran in the region.
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, informed reporters before the UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday that Israel welcomed the ceasefire and leaned towards a diplomatic resolution. He then addressed the Security Council asserting that Iran is the hub of violence in the region, emphasizing that peace necessitates eliminating this threat.
Prime Minister Mikati’s caretaker government in Lebanon includes ministers appointed by Hezbollah, widely viewed as the country’s most powerful political force. In Israel’s pinpoint airstrikes over the past few days, a significant portion of Hezbollah’s leadership has been eliminated.