Israel rejects proposed 21-day halt in fighting with Hezbollah

lt vows to battle till defeat of militants; latest strike kills 23 Syrians in Lebanon

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Israel on Sept 26 shot down a proposal from its allies and several Arab nations for a 21-day halt in the deadly fighting between the country and Hezbollah that has raised fears of a wider war.

“There will be no ceasefire in the north,” Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a statement on social media platform X. “We will continue to fight against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation with all our strength until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes.”

The US and its allies in Europe, along with several Arab nations, had called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire across the Israel-Lebanon border while also expressing support for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, according to a joint statement of the countries released by the White House late on Sept 25.

The ceasefire was supposed to apply to the Israel-Lebanon “Blue Line”, the demarcation line between the countries, and would allow the parties to negotiate towards a potential diplomatic resolution of the conflict, said a senior Biden administration official.

Before Israel rejected this joint proposal, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati had expressed hope that a ceasefire could be reached soon to end a conflict that has shaken Lebanon and raised fears of a ground invasion by Israel.

Mr Mikati welcomed the call for a truce but said the key to its implementation was whether Israel, which has been moving troops closer to Lebanon, was committed to enforcing international resolutions.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, heading to New York to address the United Nations, said he had yet to give his response to the ceasefire proposal.