Ceasefire news ‘not true’, says Netanyahu’s office
The Israeli PM’s office has released a statement on Netanyahu’s X page saying the “news about a ceasefire is not true”.
The US, France, Canada, Australia, Japan, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia have backed a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon. But his office said that Netanyahu “did not even respond” to the proposal. “The news about the supposed directive to moderate the fighting in the north is also the opposite of the truth.”
The statement added that the PM instructed the Israeli forces “to continue the fighting with full force, and according to the plans presented to him”.
Qatar says no formal mediation for Lebanon ceasefire yet
A formal mediation track to reach a ceasefire in Lebanon has not yet been put in place, according to Qatar’s Foreign Ministry. Qatar is also not aware of a “direct link” between proposals for Lebanon and Gaza, said ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari at a press briefing.
Qatar, which mediated rounds of Gaza ceasefire talks along with the US and Egypt, has repeatedly warned of the risk of regional fallout from the Gaza war.
Right-wing Israeli officials oppose Lebanon ceasefire
Numerous right-wing Israeli figures have voiced strong opposition to a proposed 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon, arguing it would stop the Israeli military’s momentum there and give Hezbollah time to regroup.
- Nissim Vaturi, a member of parliament with Netanyahu’s Likud party, said it would amount to “surrender” to the Lebanese group.
- Far-right MP Almog Cohen, with the ultra-nationalist Otzma Yehudit party, said a ceasefire would be a “national disaster”, demanding “Hezbollah must pay”.
- Zvi Sukkot, a member of the far-right Religious Zionist Party, said a ceasefire would enable Hezbollah to recuperate and pose more danger to northern Israeli towns.
Israeli Army Radio quoted security officials as saying Israel needed to carry on its offensive longer to achieve its war aims before striking a ceasefire.
Israel’s foreign minister rules out ceasefire with Hezbollah
Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz rejected proposals for a ceasefire in Lebanon after the US and France called for a 21-day halt in the fighting to allow time to reach a diplomatic solution.
“There will be no ceasefire in the north. We will continue to fight … with all our strength until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes,” he said on X.
Earlier, Israel’s PM Netanyahu said he has instructed the military to keep fighting and has not yet given his response to the ceasefire proposal.
