4 Killed in Israeli Strike on West Bank | Israel Insists ‘Long Campaign’ Ahead in Gaza.
Israel called off operations in Gaza before achieving all its goals. Netanyahu said his country would not succumb to the winds of defeat and the Israeli army chief said it would take some more time to destroy Hamas’ infrastructure.
Diplomatic Efforts and France’s Intervention.
On the diplomatic front, French President Emmanuel Macron has urged the Israeli prime minister to prevent a confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. During a telephone conversation, Macron stressed the need for a quick diplomatic solution for all parties and urged Netanyahu to refrain from any new operations in Gaza near Khan Yunis.
Hezbollah’s Reaction.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah’s deputy leader says the only way to end hostilities on the Lebanon-Israel border is a complete ceasefire in Gaza. But he says if Israel reduces its military operations without a formal ceasefire agreement and a complete withdrawal from Gaza, Hezbollah’s involvement in the Israel-Hamas war will no longer exist.
Possible Outcomes of Israel-Lebanon Conflict.
However, the Hezbollah leader underlined that the implications of the Israel-Lebanon war are less clear. The third phase that Israel is talking about in Gaza is still unclear. It could be a prelude to a ceasefire and an agreement with the Palestinians. It could be a continuation of the war in another form or a transitional phase.
Hezbollah’s Next Steps.
We in Lebanon, as Hezbollah, are not able to decide how to deal with this new phase because its characteristics are unclear. However, we have already announced that if the next phase is a ceasefire, we will stop firing into Lebanon.