TEL AVIV, November 26. /TASS/. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a special televised address that he will submit a plan for a ceasefire in Lebanon to the war cabinet.
The duration of a potential ceasefire will depend on how events will unfold, he said. Israel would have a complete liberty of action, should Hezbollah resume attacks, according to the official.
"Tonight I am presenting the cabinet with a plan for a ceasefire in Lebanon. The duration of that ceasefire would depend on what happens. In full cooperation with the US, we would retain free rein for military actions. If Hezbollah were to violate the agreements and try to arm itself, we would attack. If Hezbollah were to try to resume terrorist activities near our border or launch a missile, we would attack," the prime minister said.
According to Netanyahu, Israel will "strictly honor the agreement and react harshly to any violations." He said a ceasefire would give Israel a chance to focus on the Iranian threat, restock weapons and rebuild troops, and isolate the remaining Hamas forces in Gaza.
He expressed confidence that the military campaign against Hezbollah set the group decades back in terms of military capabilities. Israeli forces killed Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrullah, some other leaders, destroyed most of their weapons, thousands of fighters and key infrastructure, the prime minister said.
"Many doubt our resolve, but I will remind you of this: We have already proved our strength and commitment," Netanyahu stated. "As I said, a good treaty is one that is honored. We will honor it."
He vowed that the country will bring the elimination of Hamas to an end.
"We will bring back all our hostages, make sure the Gaza Strip never threatens Israel again, and guarantee a safe return of the people of the north to their homes. The war will not end until we achieve all of its objectives, including a safe return of the people of the north to their homes. And I want to tell you this: It will happen just as it happened in the south," Netanyahu said.
A region gripped by conflict
The situation in the Middle East sharply escalated following an incursion of Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip into Israel on October 7, accompanied by killings of residents of Israeli settlements near the border and taking hostages, including children, women and elderly people. In response, Israel declared a complete siege of the Gaza Strip and started delivering strikes on that area and parts of Lebanon and Syria. That was followed by an Israeli ground operation in the enclave.
On September 23, Israel started a military operation codenamed Northern Arrows against Hezbollah in Lebanon, carrying out widespread strikes at the group’s military sites. In the small hours of October 1, Israel announced the start of a ground operation in the border areas of southern Lebanon.