Department of Strategic Security and Military Research and Studies 26-09-2024

Netanyahu Declines US-French Ceasefire Plan.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed a joint US-French proposal for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Netanyahu’s office released a statement clarifying that reports of a ceasefire agreement were false, stating, “This is an American-French initiative to which the Prime Minister has not responded.” Instead, the statement confirmed that Netanyahu had instructed the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to continue their military operations with full force.

Since the start of Israel’s intense bombing campaign in Lebanon on Monday, more than 600 people have been killed, and thousands more injured.

In addition, Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, echoed Netanyahu’s rejection of the proposed 21-day ceasefire. Katz posted on social media, “There will be no ceasefire in the north. We will continue to fight Hezbollah, the terrorist organization, with all our might until we achieve victory and secure the safe return of residents in the northern region.”

Approximately 60,000 Israelis have fled their homes in northern Israel due to ongoing hostilities with Hezbollah and other anti-Israel forces based in Lebanon. Similarly, on the Lebanese side of the UN-drawn blue line, tens of thousands of people have been displaced.

Earlier, Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s far-right finance minister known for his opposition to the creation of a Palestinian state, also rejected the idea of a ceasefire. Smotrich stated, “The conflict in the north should end with one outcome – the destruction of Hezbollah.”

The Israeli military reported that overnight it targeted around 75 Hezbollah-related sites in the Beqaa Valley and southern Lebanon. Lebanese authorities confirmed that at least four people were killed this morning. In a separate incident, an Israeli strike in Younine, Lebanon, claimed the lives of 23 Syrians, mostly women and children.

The US and France had called for a temporary halt to hostilities to facilitate broader negotiations. In a joint statement, US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized, “A resolution to the Israel-Lebanon border conflict is necessary to restore safety and security and allow civilians to return to their homes. The ongoing exchanges of fire since October 7th, especially in recent weeks, pose the risk of a larger conflict and further civilian harm.”

Meanwhile, The Jerusalem Post reported dissatisfaction among Israeli community leaders in the northern region regarding the potential for a ceasefire. One regional council chairman commented, “There is a time for negotiations, but now is not that time. This is a time for war.”