Israeli Teams to Continue Meetings on US Ceasefire Proposals, Netanyahu States

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli officials convened discussions regarding the U.S. ceasefire proposals with Lebanon on Thursday, with plans to continue talks in the coming days, as stated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday. He expressed appreciation for the U.S. efforts in this matter.

"Our teams met on Thursday to deliberate the U.S. initiative and how we can work towards the joint objective of ensuring the safe return of people to their homes. We will persist with these discussions in the days ahead," Netanyahu affirmed in a statement.

These remarks followed assertions made by Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, who declared on Thursday that there would be no ceasefire in the north. This declaration came amid ongoing heavy bombardment by Israeli jets targeting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement, marking some of the most intense military action in years.

Netanyahu’s office released a statement after his departure to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, indicating that the Prime Minister had directed Israeli troops to maintain their aggressive actions in Lebanon.

Although Netanyahu did not address Katz’s comments or those from other Israeli officials who have also dismissed the possibility of a ceasefire, he noted that there had been "considerable misreporting surrounding the U.S.-led ceasefire initiative."

"Israel aligns with the goals of the U.S.-led initiative aimed at enabling people near our northern border to return securely to their homes," the statement read. It further highlighted the significance of U.S. involvement in fostering stability and security in the region.

Israeli forces have engaged in daily confrontations with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon for nearly a year, following the Iranian-backed group’s missile attacks on Israel shortly after the Hamas-led assault on October 7.

Large numbers of individuals from both sides of the border have fled, resulting in significant areas being left deserted. Israel has identified the return of evacuees as a key objective of its military efforts.

Over the past week, Israeli airstrikes have targeted hundreds of locations throughout southern Lebanon and beyond, resulting in over 600 casualties. Concurrently, Hezbollah has launched numerous rockets and missiles at Israel, including a strike aimed at Tel Aviv. Israel’s air defense systems have successfully intercepted many of these attacks, minimizing damage to affected areas.