Israel Reports Cease-Fire Progress, Hezbollah Denies Agreement

Israel Reports Cease-Fire Progress, Hezbollah Denies Agreement \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Israel’s foreign minister indicated progress in cease-fire efforts with Hezbollah, but the militant group said it had not received an official proposal and was ready for prolonged conflict. U.S. efforts to broker peace continue, with envoy Amos Hochstein expected to return to the region soon. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have killed and injured civilians, with Lebanon’s health ministry reporting a rising toll from recent hostilities.

Israel and Hezbollah Cease-Fire Talks Quick Looks

• Progress in Talks: Israel’s new foreign minister reported “certain progress” in cease-fire discussions with Hezbollah, coordinated with U.S. mediation.
• Hezbollah’s Response: A Hezbollah spokesman stated the group had no official cease-fire proposal and remains prepared for extended fighting.
• U.S. Mediation Efforts: The Biden administration has invested months in mediating a cease-fire, with U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein likely to return soon.
• Israeli Foreign Minister’s Remarks: Gideon Saar noted any agreement must include measures to prevent Hezbollah’s rearmament near the Israeli border.
• Casualties from Conflict: In Lebanon, airstrikes killed eight in the north and seven in the south; Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported over 3,200 deaths since fighting began.
• Rocket Barrages from Lebanon: Israeli officials reported 190 rockets fired from Lebanon on Monday, with 90 aimed at Haifa.
• West Bank Annexation Push: Israel’s finance minister plans to advocate for annexing parts of the West Bank after Trump’s anticipated return to office.

Deep Look

On Monday, Israel’s new foreign minister reported “certain progress” in diplomatic efforts to reach a cease-fire with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, but conflicting messages emerged as Hezbollah’s spokesperson claimed the group had not received an official proposal. Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, underscored that any potential cease-fire agreement must include rigorous enforcement measures to prevent Hezbollah from restoring its military infrastructure along the Lebanon-Israel border. Saar remarked, “The most important thing will not [be] the words but the enforcement,” emphasizing that Israel would take immediate military action if Hezbollah violates any agreement terms.

The Biden administration has been actively engaged in cease-fire negotiations, with U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein expected to return to the region soon. Despite these diplomatic efforts, Hezbollah continues to assert its readiness for a prolonged conflict, reflecting the complexity and unpredictability surrounding the negotiations.

The escalation of violence since October has exacted a high human toll. On Monday, an Israeli airstrike on a residential area in northern Lebanon killed at least eight people and injured 14 others, with rescue teams frantically searching the rubble for survivors. Another airstrike struck a residential building in southern Lebanon, claiming seven lives and injuring seven more, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported. Lebanon’s state media circulated video footage showing emergency responders moving bodies in shrouded bags, with civilian casualties drawing international concern.

The health ministry reports over 3,200 deaths in Lebanon since Hezbollah began its most recent wave of cross-border attacks on October 8, following Hamas’s deadly incursion into Israel. Hezbollah initiated its strikes on Israel in support of Hamas, intensifying the conflict and broadening its impact across the region. Israeli airstrikes have since extended deeper into Lebanon, with recent attacks affecting villages far from Hezbollah’s strongholds in southern Lebanon.

The origin of the current Israel-Hezbollah tensions traces back to October 7, when Hamas fighters breached Israeli borders, killing around 1,200 Israelis, primarily civilians, and taking hostages. Israel’s forceful response in Gaza has reportedly resulted in over 43,000 Palestinian casualties, including a significant number of women and children. This conflict has stoked retaliatory rocket fire from Hezbollah in Lebanon, with Monday’s rocket barrage from Lebanese territory marking one of the largest to date.

In addition to recent strikes in Lebanon, Israeli military officials reported that 190 rockets were launched from Lebanon on Monday, targeting northern Israel, with 90 aimed at Haifa. Israeli rescue services reported five injuries resulting from the barrage, while the Israeli military confirmed intercepting many of the incoming rockets. While Hezbollah did not take immediate responsibility for the evening’s rocket attacks, it claimed credit for two earlier strikes targeting Israeli military positions near Haifa.

The escalating cross-border violence has deeply affected civilians. UNICEF reported on Monday that over 200 children have died in Lebanon during the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, underscoring the humanitarian toll of ongoing hostilities. Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati called for an immediate cease-fire along the border, invoking a U.N. resolution that ended a previous conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.

Meanwhile, in a related development, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced plans to push for the annexation of parts of the West Bank once Donald Trump, whom Smotrich counts on for pro-Israel support, assumes office in January 2025. Smotrich expressed confidence that Trump’s return would enable a shift toward “sovereignty in Judea and Samaria,” the biblical term for the West Bank, despite international consensus deeming such settlements illegal under international law.

As the violence persists, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has also intensified, with the U.S. pressuring Israel to increase aid to the territory. The Biden administration set a deadline for Israel to allow at least 350 trucks of essential supplies to enter Gaza daily or face potential reductions in U.S. military support. Currently, an average of only 57 aid trucks reach Gaza daily, falling far short of humanitarian needs, as ongoing fighting and restricted border access limit the amount of aid distributed.

While international leaders call for de-escalation, such as UAE diplomat Anwar Gargash’s call for an end to violence and renewed focus on civilian welfare, diplomatic efforts face significant challenges. With entrenched hostilities, mounting casualties, and a complex web of political interests, the region’s path toward peace remains fraught.

More on World News