Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday rejected a US-backed proposal for a ceasefire in Lebanon, vowing to continue military operations against Hezbollah until all objectives are met.
Speaking ahead of his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Netanyahu made it clear that Israel’s military offensive would not pause, despite diplomatic pressure from the United States and European allies.
“Our policy is clear,” Netanyahu said. “We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force, and we will not stop until we reach all our goals, chief among them the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes.”
The comments followed an Israeli airstrike in southern Beirut that killed Mohammad Hussein Srour, the head of Hezbollah’s drone unit. The Iran-backed militia confirmed Srour’s death in a statement, describing him as a key figure in their operations.
Srour, born in 1973, was reportedly targeted by Israeli forces as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt Hezbollah’s military capabilities.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz echoed Netanyahu’s stance, posting on X (formerly Twitter), “There will be no ceasefire.” Defence Minister Yoav Gallant added that the Israeli military’s goal is to keep “throwing Hezbollah off balance and deepening their loss.”
The Israeli leadership’s comments appear to have blocked international efforts to broker a ceasefire.
US President Joe Biden, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, has been pushing for a 21-day truce to allow humanitarian aid and avert further civilian casualties.
However, with Israel now preparing for a possible ground invasion of Lebanon, diplomatic efforts have stalled, raising concerns about a broader regional conflict that could draw in Iran and the United States.
Lebanese officials have expressed alarm at the growing death toll and displacement within their country. Lebanon’s foreign minister Abdallah Bou Habib stated that around half a million people have been displaced by Israeli airstrikes.
Lebanon’s health ministry reported that 92 people were killed and 153 injured in Israeli bombardments within the past 24 hours alone.
The overall death toll from the conflict, which erupted between Israel and Hezbollah in October 2023, has surpassed 1,500, with more than 700 Lebanese civilians killed since Monday.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati had initially expressed hope for a ceasefire, but Israel’s stance has dimmed those prospects.
Meanwhile, international leaders have voiced growing concerns.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, speaking from London, warned that “another full-scale war could be devastating for both Israel and Lebanon.”
He added that “a diplomatic solution, not a military solution, is the only way to ensure that displaced civilians on both sides of the border can finally go back home.”
French President Macron also condemned the increasing civilian toll, warning that Lebanon risked “becoming a new Gaza.” Macron called the situation “absolutely shocking” and urged both sides to seek a swift resolution.
Despite these international appeals, Israel remains resolute in its military campaign, with no signs of backing down from its objectives, leaving the future of the region uncertain.
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