The Lebanese government has said it was ready to engage in indirect negotiations with Israel to establish a ceasefire and bring an end to the conflict between Hezbollah and the Israeli army in South Lebanon. This comes amid intensifying exchanges of fire and Israel’s threats to escalate the war.
During a meeting with ambassadors and representatives from United Nations Security Council member states, Prime Minister Najib Mikati emphasized the need for the Security Council to take “more decisive and effective measures” in addressing Israeli violations and attacks on the Lebanese population.
He stressed that the Security Council’s response must be “swift and robust, aiming to protect innocent lives and civil defense personnel working tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of the people.”
Mikati also condemned “Israel’s continued targeting of Lebanese civilians, a clear violation of international law and a threat to the safety and security of the country’s population.”
He expressed gratitude to Security Council members for their support in renewing UNIFIL’s mandate and their commitment to maintaining stability in Lebanon.
Following the meeting, Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib noted that the ambassadors affirmed their support for the protection of civilians and international laws, including the Geneva Conventions, which safeguard individuals during conflicts.
He said: “Most ambassadors indirectly condemned these attacks and emphasized their opposition to targeting civilians. We agreed to avoid the term ‘de-escalation’ and instead focus on halting the attacks.”
“As a government, we seek a ceasefire and an end to the war. We have informed the relevant parties of our willingness to engage in indirect negotiations with Israel to achieve this,” Bou Habib added.
He mentioned that the prime minister has instructed Lebanon’s UN mission to consult with Security Council members about convening a session on Lebanon, particularly regarding the targeting of the population. He also highlighted “strong support for Lebanon from all sides, which is preventing a full-scale war in the South.”
“Israel is refusing negotiations, and Hezbollah may also oppose them, but Hezbollah is not a state. It is the Lebanese state that decides. If a viable resolution is proposed, we will accept it as a government and work to convince Hezbollah to agree. This is the responsibility of the Lebanese state, as Hezbollah is not a member of the United Nations—Lebanon is,” Bou Habib remarked.
In response to a question, the foreign minister stressed that any ceasefire resolution would be a new one, not an amendment to Resolution 1701.
Israeli Threats
Lebanon’s call for negotiations comes amid growing threats from Israel. Former Israeli war cabinet member and leader of the National Unity Party, Benny Gantz, said Israel should consider launching a war against Lebanon if no ceasefire agreement or prisoner exchange with Hamas is reached soon.
Speaking at the Middle East American Dialogue (MEAD) conference in Washington, Gantz stated: “It’s time to focus on the North. We are behind schedule, and I believe we must strike a deal to bring back the hostages, even if it comes at a painful cost. However, if no agreement is reached in the coming days or weeks, we should escalate the war in the North and ensure the safe return of our citizens to their homes.”
He added: “We can achieve this, even if it requires targeting the state of Lebanon itself. I see no other way forward.”
Military Developments
On the ground, the Israeli army announced that its warplanes and helicopters targeted Hezbollah military facilities and launch sites in Kfar Kila, Taybeh, Hanin, and Yaroun on Sunday night.
Lebanon’s Ministry of Health reported that an Israeli airstrike on Hanin injured four people, who were taken to the hospital for treatment.
In response, Hezbollah claimed to have launched drones targeting the headquarters of the Israeli Golani Brigade and the 621st Egoz Unit at the Shraga barracks near Acre. The group also reported attacking the Jall Al-Alam site with drones, stating they directly hit their targets.
Israeli media reported that Hezbollah’s drone strike caused damage to a residential apartment on the 14th floor of a new building in north Nahariya.
