Jerusalem:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned on Thursday his authorities had not responded to a push by the United States and its allies for a 21-day ceasefire in Israel’s battle with the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
“It is an American-French proposal, which the prime minister has not even responded to,” mentioned a press release from Netanyahu’s workplace, including that he had ordered the military “to proceed the preventing with full power”.
The United States, European Union and different allies together with a number of Arab states issued a joint name for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon after Israeli air strikes on Hezbollah killed lots of and displaced tens of 1000’s in Lebanon this week.
The state of affairs in Lebanon has grow to be “insupportable” and “is in no person’s curiosity, neither of the individuals of Israel nor of the individuals of Lebanon,” mentioned a joint assertion from US President Joe Biden, his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, and different allies.
“We name for a direct 21-day ceasefire throughout the Lebanon-Israel border to offer area for diplomacy in the direction of the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement.”
The assertion was issued collectively with Western powers, Japan and key Gulf Arab powers — Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — as leaders met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The name for a three-week ceasefire got here hours after Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi on Wednesday advised troopers to organize for a potential floor offensive towards Hezbollah.
Israeli aerial bombardment of Hezbollah strongholds round Lebanon has killed lots of of individuals this week, whereas the militant group has hit again with barrages of rockets and mentioned a ballistic missile focused Tel Aviv.
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