After Rejecting US Truce Proposal, Netanyahu Says Israel 'Shares the Aims'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Thursday that Israel "shares the aims" of the US-led ceasefire proposal in Lebanon, despite publicly rejecting the plan earlier. The clarification came after the US and France both announced that Israel had privately signaled support for the 21-day truce, a claim Netanyahu initially denied.

The proposed ceasefire, spearheaded by Washington and Paris, aims to de-escalate the conflict with Hezbollah along Israel's northern border. The truce would also pave the way for hostages to be released in Gaza and create conditions for Hezbollah to withdraw forces in accordance with a UN resolution. The ongoing Israeli strikes have severely weakened Hezbollah’s command structure, following a wave of attacks on the group's communications networks, widely attributed to Israel.

“Israel shares the aims of the US-led initiative of enabling people along our northern border to return safely and securely to their homes,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) added that Israeli and US officials are continuing to discuss how best to achieve this goal.

The truce proposal comes amid relentless clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, with the terror group regularly targeting Israeli communities and military posts since early October. The violence has taken a significant toll, with 26 Israeli civilians and 22 IDF soldiers killed in the north. Israel has responded with intensified airstrikes, killing hundreds of Hezbollah members and other operatives in Lebanon and Syria.

While Netanyahu had been reportedly involved in drafting the US-French initiative, he later distanced himself from it due to backlash within his own coalition. His political base strongly opposes any halt to the military campaign against Hezbollah, fearing it would embolden the Iran-backed group.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated the American stance during a meeting with Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, warning that further Israeli escalation against Hezbollah could complicate efforts to bring civilians back to their homes. Blinken also discussed the stalled ceasefire talks in Gaza, urging Israel to facilitate humanitarian assistance to the enclave while reaffirming the US commitment to Israel's security.

Meanwhile, at the UN General Assembly, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bouhabib called for an immediate ceasefire on all fronts, warning that continued violence at the Israeli-Lebanese border threatens broader international stability.

The situation in the north remains tense, with Hezbollah-led attacks showing no signs of abating. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that since the latest escalation of Israeli airstrikes, more than 630 people have been killed, including many civilians. Israel maintains that most of those killed are Hezbollah operatives.

As negotiations continue, Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah persists, with Netanyahu vowing not to stop until the country's goals are achieved and residents of the northern border can safely return to their homes.

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