Israel Willing to Cease Fire on Condition of Operation Against Hezbollah

Israel has handed over a document to the United States last week regarding a ceasefire in Lebanon. It proposes a diplomatic solution to stop the war in Lebanon, but with conditions. Axios, a US media outlet, reported this information on Sunday, citing two US and two Israeli officials.

Israel’s condition for agreeing to a ceasefire is that their military, the IDF, must be given complete permission to conduct operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israeli forces would conduct operations in Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah from reorganizing and establishing military installations armed with weapons near the Israeli border. Additionally, the Israeli Air Force must have freedom to conduct operations in Lebanese airspace.

A US official told Axios that Lebanon or the international community is unlikely to agree to Israel’s conditions for a ceasefire.

The United States has not officially commented on Israel’s conditions. The Lebanese embassy has also not commented on this matter.

Washington has initiated new efforts for peace in the Middle East. These efforts have intensified following the death of Hezbollah leader Yahya Sinwar. As part of diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire, White House Special Envoy Amos Hochstein is visiting Beirut on Monday. Additionally, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken departed today for the Middle East to discuss ceasefire with regional leaders. Hochstein will meet with Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. Berri said Hochstein’s visit is the last chance to reach a peace agreement in the Middle East before the US presidential election. He also stated that any deviation from the agreement that ended the last major war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006 would be unacceptable.

Meanwhile, Israel continues to conduct extensive attacks on Beirut, Lebanon, and Gaza, Palestine. On Monday, Israeli forces attacked schools and shelters for displaced people in Gaza and Beirut. They have detained people and ordered evacuations. Residents of Gaza’s Jabalia and doctors at the Indonesian Hospital say Israeli forces attacked a school near the hospital, detained people, and set it on fire.

Lebanese residents are not seeing any hope in Hochstein’s visit. Tony Rawandos, a 61-year-old car workshop owner, says, “This is a waste of time. Will we be free from Hezbollah’s weapons? Hochstein won’t be able to do anything.”