Hezbollah endorses Lebanon ceasefire talks amid rising tensions with Israel

Hezbollah has publicly expressed support for ceasefire efforts in Lebanon, marking a significant shift in the group’s stance as it previously tied any truce to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The group’s Deputy Secretary General, Naim Qassem, made the announcement on Tuesday, backing the political initiatives led by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri aimed at securing a ceasefire.

Qassem emphasized the importance of diplomacy and collaboration once a ceasefire is achieved, saying, “We support the political efforts under Berri’s leadership to achieve a ceasefire.

Once it is firmly in place, further discussions and decisions will be made collectively.” This statement marks Hezbollah’s first clear endorsement of a truce without explicitly linking it to the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Hezbollah initially began its attacks on Israel on October 8 of last year in solidarity with Hamas, which had launched an offensive from Gaza a day earlier.

In the past, Hezbollah insisted that it would only halt its strikes once a ceasefire was reached in Gaza. However, Israel has demanded that Hezbollah separate its conflict with Israel from the Gaza war.

This latest development comes amid a backdrop of continued hostilities. On Tuesday, Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets at Israeli cities, including Haifa and Kiryat Yam, marking one of the largest attacks since the conflict began.

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Although the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intercepted many of the rockets, some caused damage to buildings in northern Israel.

Qassem’s speech coincides with Israel’s ongoing operations in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces have carried out targeted strikes, including an assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah last month.

His successor, Hashem Safieddine, was reportedly killed in another strike, though the Israeli military has yet to confirm his death.

Despite the nod toward ceasefire negotiations, Qassem struck a defiant tone, asserting Hezbollah’s preparedness to continue its fight. “If the enemy continues its war, then the battlefield will be decisive, and the battlefield belongs to us,” he warned.

Israel, for its part, has reiterated its stance. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Lebanese people directly in a video message, urging them to take a stand against Hezbollah and warning of the consequences of continued war.

“You have an opportunity to save Lebanon before it falls into a long war, much like what we see in Gaza,” Netanyahu stated.

As the war drags on, Lebanon has been devastated by the conflict. According to Lebanese authorities, over 1,400 people have been killed and more than 1.2 million displaced.

Meanwhile, international efforts led by Western nations to broker peace, spearheaded by Lebanese Parliament Speaker Berri, continue amid rising humanitarian concerns.