Benny Gantz, the leader of Israel’s opposition party, said that if there is a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon, it should be in such a way that even after the agreement, the Israeli army can maintain the freedom to attack Lebanese territory.
Gantz wrote on his X account on Monday, “A condition of any agreement with Lebanon – Israel’s complete independence against any violation of law.”
Israel’s main ally, the United States, is brokering a ceasefire between Lebanon and Tel Aviv. After more than a year of fighting, the ceasefire has only recently begun.
Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported that US Ambassador Amos Hochstein will arrive in Beirut on Tuesday to respond to Lebanon’s ceasefire proposal. He will then go to Israel on Wednesday.
Israel wants the deal to allow its army to attack if the terms of the ceasefire are violated. But this condition was directly rejected by Lebanon.
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri confirmed last week that Beirut had received a ceasefire proposal. However, this proposal “does not include any freedom of movement for the Israeli army in Lebanon”.
At the same time, Nabih Berri called Israel’s conditions “unacceptable” and “unthinkable”. “There will be no compromise on Lebanon’s sovereignty,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Israel launched airstrikes in Lebanon last September, after continuing its invasion of the Gaza Strip since October 7 last year.
Israel claims that the attacks mainly targeted Hezbollah’s facilities and positions.
However, according to Lebanon’s health department, more than 3,400 Lebanese have been killed and more than 14,600 wounded in Israeli attacks so far. Besides, more than 10 lakh people have been displaced.
Israel launched a ground operation in southern Lebanon on October 1 this year, further escalating the ongoing conflict.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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