Netanyahu’s office has denied that it will accept a US-French ceasefire proposal of 21 days, and stated the IDF would continue its operations against Hezbollah.

The Office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied reports that the office had accepted a call from the United States and France for a ceasefire lasting 21 days.

The Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement while Netanyahu was on his way to New York for the High-Level Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The PMO said, “This is a French-American proposal to which the Prime Minister did not even respond.”

The IDF also denied reports that, as a result, of diplomatic initiatives, it had reduced the intensity of its military campaign in order to drive Hezbollah to the Litani River. This step is mandated by the United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 1701.

“The reported directive to reduce the fighting in northern Syria is not true. According to his plan, the Prime Minister ordered the IDF fighters to fight with all their might.

The Prime Minister’s Office said that “the fighting in Gaza will continue until the war’s objectives are achieved.”

Israel Katz, the Foreign Minister of Israel, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday morning, “There will not be a truce in the North.”

21-day ceasefire

The PMO responded hours after the United States, France and Israel called for a ceasefire of 21 days to allow a diplomatic solution to the border conflict which in recent weeks threatened to escalate into a full-blown war.

The two countries called for a ceasefire to be implemented across the border between Israel and Lebanon within 21 days. This would allow for diplomatic negotiations towards a diplomatic solution.

Ten other countries and organizations have also endorsed the initiative: Australia, Canada (the European Union), France, Germany, Italy and Japan.

They called for Israel, Hezbollah (the Iranian proxy group) and Lebanon to adhere a settlement that was based on UNSC Resolution 1701, which set the terms of the ceasefire in the Second Lebanon War (2006).

Hezbollah would have to withdraw from the southern Lebanon area near the Israeli border in order to take this step and move back towards the Litani River. Hezbollah violates this resolution since long. Israel is weighing up the possibility of a ground operation in southern Lebanon, in addition to their current aerial campaign.

The US, France and ten additional countries called for the implementation the ceasefire in Gaza and the hostage deal reached by the UNSC on May 31, as outlined in Resolution 2735.

The 12 countries called for a 21-day immediate ceasefire along the border between Israel and Lebanon to allow for diplomatic negotiations towards a diplomatic agreement in accordance with UNSCR1701, as well as the implementation of UNSCR2735 concerning a Gaza ceasefire.

The 12 countries said that they were “prepared to support any diplomatic efforts made to reach an agreement between Israel and Lebanon within this time period, building upon the efforts of the past months to end this crisis.”

A senior US official stated that during these 21 days, talks will be held for a diplomatic solution. He noted that this only concerned the conflict with Hezbollah, and that it did not include a Gaza truce, despite steps being taken to finalize a deal.

Officials noted that Israel and Lebanon were expected to respond within hours.

Lebanon’s leader Mikati welcomes the call for a ceasefire but says the key to its successful implementation is whether Israel, who has moved troops closer to Lebanon in recent months, is willing to enforce international resolutions.

Mikati responded to Reuters when asked if a truce could be achieved soon: “Hopefully yes.”