No ceasefire in Lebanon, says Netanyahu

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated Thursday that there was “no ceasefire in Lebanon” and that Israel would continue striking Hezbollah, while announcing direct negotiations with Lebanon.

“I wish to inform you: There is no ceasefire in Lebanon. We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force, and we will not stop until we restore your security,” he said in an address.

“Following repeated requests from the Lebanese government to open peace negotiations with us, last night I instructed the Cabinet to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon.”

Netanyahu said Israel’s goals in the talks were to secure the disarmament of Hezbollah and a “historic, sustainable peace between Israel and Lebanon.”

In a separate, earlier statement, Netanyahu thanked Prime Minister Nawaf Salam for the call “to demilitarize Beirut.”

More than 250 people were killed in Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon on Wednesday, as disputes continued over whether Lebanon was covered by the US-Iran cease-fire. the international community has called on Israel to halt its attacks.

As US President Donald Trump announced the two-week ceasefire with Iran, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, which helped mediate the ceasefire, took to social media in celebration, saying it covered all conflict zones, including Lebanon. Israel, in announcing its support for the ceasefire, was direct in stating it does not include its northern neighbour — a position the United States also took.

As confusion has hung over the ceasefire, many nations, including Britain, Canada and France, have called on Israel to halt its attacks and for Lebanon to be included in the ceasefire.

Amid mounting pressure on Israel from the international community to halt its strikes, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif called Israel “evil and a curse for humanity” in an incendiary, since-deleted social media statement.

“While peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon,” Asif said, while accusing Israel of “bloodletting” and calling it a “cancerous state.”

Israeli leaders were quick to condemn the racially charged comments.

“Pakistan defense minister’s call for Israel’s annihilation is outrageous,” Netanyahu’s office said online.

“This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Israel views Asif’s comments as “blatant anti-Semitic blood libels” coming from a country trying to mediate peace.

“Calling the Jewish state ‘cancerous’ is effectively calling for its annihilation. Israel will defend itself against terrorists who vow its destruction,” he said on X. (UPI)

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