US and allies urge Israel to accept 21‑day ceasefire with Hezbollah
The United States and its allies have called on Israel and Hezbollah to end their conflict. This statement was published on the White House website. Prime Minister Netanyahu, in response, has ordered the army to continue its strikes.
The United States and its allies have called for a 21-day ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah to allow the parties to begin negotiations towards a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
We call on all parties, including the Governments of Israel and Lebanon, to endorse the temporary ceasefire immediately—stated the announcement published on 25 September on the White House website.
The US allies who signed the joint statement include Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Qatar.
Israeli journalist Amit Segal reported, citing a source in the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, that the country’s authorities had given a "green light for a ceasefire with the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah militia."
Israeli Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu ordered the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) to scale down the intensity of attacks in Lebanon.
Is Israel ignoring the US request?
As Reuters notes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, en route to New York to speak at the UN, stated he has not yet responded to the ceasefire proposal and has directed the army to continue its operations.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed hope for a swift ceasefire. When Reuters asked if a ceasefire could be achieved soon, he responded affirmatively.
Let us recall that on 23 September, the Israeli Defence Forces announced that the Israeli military had launched a "pre-emptive" military operation against the Lebanese group Hezbollah. The IDF announced that within a few days of extensive bombings in Lebanon, they had destroyed hundreds of Hezbollah-related targets.
