TEL AVIV: Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told the United States that prospects for a ceasefire with Hezbollah along the Lebanon border were dimming, an Israeli defence ministry statement said on Monday.
During a phone call with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, Gallant said that efforts to establish a ceasefire are becoming increasingly unlikely as Hezbollah continues to align itself with Hamas.
Since October 7, Hezbollah has engaged in near-daily cross-border skirmishes with Israeli forces in a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The ongoing violence has resulted in hundreds of casualties in Lebanon and dozens of deaths in Israel. The conflict has also displaced tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border.
Despite ongoing mediation efforts led by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to broker a truce in Gaza, there has been no substantial movement towards negotiations aimed at ending the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel.
Hezbollah’s deputy chief, Naim Qassem, stated on Saturday that while his group has “no intention of going to war,” any actions by Israel to escalate the conflict would lead to significant losses on both sides.
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The current situation echoes the devastating 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 160 deaths in Israel, mostly soldiers.
In response to the escalating violence, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has underscored his government’s determination to alter the current state of affairs.
On Sunday, Netanyahu said that “the existing situation will not continue,” emphasizing the need for a shift in the balance of power on Israel’s northern border. He assured residents of the northern regions that the government is committed to their safety and to facilitating their return to their homes.
