Resident of Northern Israel Denounce Proposed Ceasefire

Jerusalem, 26 September, 2024 (TPS) -- Residents of northern Israel denounced a 21-day ceasefire with Hezbollah jointly proposed on Wednesday by the US and several other countries.

“Whoever signs a political agreement now – the blood of those murdered in the next massacre in the north will be on his hands,” and added: “Holding a ceasefire now allows the blood of the residents of the north, we will not return home if Hezbollah is not defeated,” said Fighting for the North in a statement.

“We the residents of the north are not ready for a cease-fire. A cease-fire now permits the blood of the residents of the north. We will not return home if Hezbollah is not defeated,” said Ma’ayan Benizri, one of the Fighting for the North’s leaders.

Around 63,500 residents of northern Israel were forced to evacuate their homes when Hezbollah began launching rockets and drones in October. The terror group has launched more than 9,300 rockets and drones, killing 49 people on the Israeli side. Hezbollah leaders have repeatedly said they will continue the attacks to prevent Israelis from returning to their homes.

The US and several other states jointly called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire “to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement.”

The statement, signed by the US, EU, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar did not mention Israel or Hezbollah by name.

Critics said the proposal failed to take Iran’s support of Hezbollah into account.

“Strange that Biden-Macron joint statement on border conflict between Israel and Lebanon fails to clarify the fact that the military exchange taking place is with Hezbollah, not the Lebanese armed forces,” tweeted Kabir Taneja, a fellow at the Observer Research Foundation in India.

Expectations of a ground invasion rose on Wednesday following comments by Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi and an announcement that the military was remobilizing two reservist brigades for the northern front. Immediately following a meeting of the Security Cabinet, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu departed for the US, where he is scheduled to address the opening session of the United General Assembly on Friday.

Israeli officials have been calling for Hezbollah to be disarmed and removed from southern Lebanon in compliance with UN Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Second Lebanon War.