- Netanyahu rejects truce, vows continued fighting
- Over 1,500 killed, ceasefire talks stalled
- Fears rise of full-scale regional conflict
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to dismiss any hopes for a ceasefire in his upcoming United Nations speech, as Israel commits to continue its battle against Hezbollah militants “until victory.
On Wednesday, Britain joined the United States, France, and other allies in proposing a 21-day ceasefire. Sir Keir Starmer, during his UN address, urged both sides to “step back from the brink.”
However, Netanyahu, upon arriving in New York last night, firmly rejected the truce proposal. He stated that Israeli forces would maintain their offensive against Hezbollah strongholds “with full force” and continue until Israel’s objectives are met.
This stance sharply contrasts with Netanyahu’s UN speech from a year ago, which celebrated a hopeful new era for Middle Eastern peace—before the devastating events of October 7.
A year after Hamas’s deadly attacks on Israel, which sparked a conflict with thousands of casualties, the region now teeters on the edge of broader war. Israeli airstrikes on Iran-backed Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon have claimed hundreds of lives this week, with Hezbollah retaliating through rocket fire.
The White House voiced frustration over Israel’s rejection of the ceasefire proposal. Hopes for the truce had risen early Thursday, with US National Security spokesman John Kirby stating that considerable effort went into the plan, suggesting Israel had initially supported the concept.
French President Emmanuel Macron later criticized Netanyahu’s refusal, calling it a “mistake” and asserting that the Israeli leader must take responsibility for any further escalation. During a meeting in Canada with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Macron mentioned that Netanyahu had been involved in developing the ceasefire plan.
The joint ceasefire proposal cited Lebanon’s worsening humanitarian situation as “intolerable” and emphasized it was not in the interest of either the Israeli or Lebanese populations.
Lebanon’s National News Agency reported Israeli air raids early Friday on several southern cities, with casualties recorded. The Lebanese health ministry stated late Thursday that Israeli strikes had killed 92 people and injured 153 in the previous 24 hours.
The conflict, which erupted last October, has claimed over 1,500 lives, with more than 700 deaths from Israeli airstrikes this week alone. According to the International Organization for Migration, around 118,000 people have been displaced from Lebanon in the past week.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israel’s strategic affairs minister in New York on Thursday, urging that the ceasefire would “allow civilians on both sides to return to their homes.” A spokesperson for Blinken, Matthew Miller, warned that further conflict escalation would hinder this goal.
Meanwhile, the Israeli defense ministry secured an $8.7 billion aid package from the US to support ongoing military operations, indicating Washington’s reluctance to leverage aid for a ceasefire.
Israel also struck Hezbollah’s southern Beirut stronghold for the fourth time this week, killing the head of the group’s drone unit, Mohammed Srur, according to both Hezbollah and the Israeli military.
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Israel’s intensified bombing campaign has heightened fears of a broader regional conflict. The military’s focus is shifting from Gaza—where it has been at war with Hamas since the October 7 attacks—to Lebanon’s border. Israel’s military chief, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, has urged soldiers to prepare for a possible ground invasion.
Israel also reported intercepting a missile launched from Yemen, with Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, threatening to support Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Houthis, since November, have targeted Red Sea shipping in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict.
Efforts to resolve the war in Gaza, diplomats argue, are key to quelling the violence in Lebanon. However, despite ongoing mediation, a Gaza ceasefire remains elusive. At the UN General Assembly, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud announced a new international coalition to pursue a two-state solution in Gaza.
Hamas’s October attack resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly civilians, with 97 hostages still held in Gaza. Israel’s retaliatory strikes in Gaza have killed at least 41,534 people, the majority being civilians, as reported by the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, figures also recognized by the UN.
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