Israel Katz Says Israeli Forces Will Continue Ground Operations After Lebanon Ceasefire Renewal

Israel and Lebanon renewed a fragile ceasefire while creating “pilot” security zones inside Lebanon where Hezbollah operatives would be banned, but Hezbollah rejected the terms and said the deal amounted to “surrender, defeat and achieving the enemy’s goals.”

“Hezbollah rejects latest ceasefire agreement as Israeli strikes kill 4 in Lebanon Hezbollah rejects latest ceasefire agreement as Israeli strikes kill 4 in Lebanon BEIRUT (AP) — Hezbollah on Thursday rejected the latest ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Lebanese government, and the militant group demanded a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon as more fighting there hampered efforts to end the Iran war”

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Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem told the BBC that negotiations were “futile” and “humiliating” for Lebanon, and he rejected categorically by “broad segments of the Lebanese people.”

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The Times of Israel said the ceasefire was “contingent on a complete cessation of Hezbollah fire and the evacuation of all Hezbollah operatives” from areas south of the Litani River, with the Lebanese army to take full control of those areas.

Even as the agreement was announced, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli military would “for the time being, continue its fire and operations on the ground” to “dismantle terrorist infrastructure in the area.”

In Beirut’s southern suburbs, also known as Dahieh, a storekeeper named Sami said the ceasefire could not work because “You cannot have a ceasefire from one side, it's going to be an all side or no ceasefire.”

Hezbollah’s rejection was echoed in a written statement read on Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV, where Qassem said the agreement’s demand that Hezbollah fighters leave southern Lebanon under fire would mean “surrender, defeat and achieving the enemy’s goals.”

Bars Bi

The BBC also reported that Donald Trump said he had spoken to Hezbollah and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and that “I think you're going to see things happen over there.”

In parallel, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the ceasefire “could be implemented within 24 hours of its final approval” by all concerned parties, while Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel would continue ground operations for now.

The renewed ceasefire and “pilot” zones are tied to the evacuation of Hezbollah operatives from areas south of the Litani River, but the BBC noted the deal did not include any maps to indicate where the pilot zones would be located.

EL PAÍS said Israel’s campaign since February 28 has killed 2,914 people in the south, destroyed 36,000 homes, and forced the evacuation of 300 municipalities, while driving 1.4 million Lebanese people from their homes.

EL PAÍS also described how Israel’s occupation of a border strip inside Lebanese territory spans 6% of Lebanon’s territory and placed 68 villages under occupation, according to Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who accused Israel of pursuing a policy of “total devastation.”

As fighting continued despite ceasefire claims, the AP reported that Hezbollah demanded a complete Israeli withdrawal as Israeli strikes killed at least four people, according to local authorities, and a U.N. peacekeeper was killed in the crossfire.