Israeli Airstrikes Kill Paramedics and Child as Lebanon, Israel Negotiate in Washington

Lebanon is heading toward a third round of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel in Washington as Israeli airstrikes and assassinations intensify from southern Lebanon to the Beqaa Valley and the outskirts of Beirut, while Hezbollah continues attacks on Israeli forces and sites in southern Lebanon and inside Israel.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun discussed preparations for the upcoming meeting in Washington with the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, stressing the need to pressure Israel to stop the firing and to halt the demolition and bulldozing of homes.

Al Jazeera

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam discussed the developments with the U.S. ambassador, underscoring the necessity of stabilizing the ceasefire and halting ongoing violations.

In parallel, DW reported that ten people, including six paramedics and a child, were killed in Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon, with the Lebanese Health Ministry saying the attacks "violated international law."

The same DW roundup said the World Health Organization reported 169 confirmed attacks on healthcare workers and facilities in Lebanon since the latest Israel-Hezbollah war began, resulting in 116 deaths.

A poll cited by [https | West Asian] found that 49% of Lebanese respondents support a peace agreement with Israel, while similar shares blame Israel and Hezbollah for the war.

The same source said the poll’s head Jawad Adra highlighted that "the share of those in favor of a peace agreement with Israel rose from 25% to around 49%" in less than a year.

DW

On the ground of the negotiations, Hezbollah urged Lebanese authorities not to go too far toward Israel, calling for abandoning the "illusions" of the possibility of reaching a peace agreement with it.

Al-Quds Al-Arabi said Hezbollah’s statement came on the anniversary of the May 17 agreement and warned that Lebanon’s acceptance of direct negotiations "serves to strengthen and increase Israeli gains at Lebanon's expense and its people."

The [https | West Asian] poll also reported that 21.9% expressed strong support for direct negotiations and 27.1% partial support, meaning around 49% lean toward supporting it to varying degrees.

In Washington, Lebanon’s delegation is described as seeking to stabilize the ceasefire, stop Israeli attacks, and secure Israel’s withdrawal from areas it occupies in south Lebanon, with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam telling the American ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa to press Israel to halt the fighting and stop demolishing homes in the south.

Israel, by contrast, ties any political track to disarming Hezbollah and securing its northern border, and insists that disarming Hezbollah is the priority, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying his government seeks to dismantle Hezbollah’s weapons and reach a peace agreement that lasts for generations.

The same account said Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that Hezbollah is the only problem that must be addressed between Lebanon and Israel.

Hezbollah refuses direct negotiations with Israel, and Al-Hurra reported that Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem called for the party to reject direct negotiations and urged the Lebanese state to withdraw from them, saying they constitute pure gains for Israel.

Al-Hurra also said the United States had hosted two rounds of direct talks between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors in Washington as part of efforts to stop the war and reach a peace agreement between the two countries.