Diplomatic sources close to negotiations aimed at reaching a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages said Hezbollah advised Hamas leaders to “respond flexibly” to the plan presented by US President Joe Biden, according to the Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat. Hezbollah reportedly asked Hamas not to close the door to ongoing talks.
Hezbollah’s main argument lies in the silence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has still not accepted the Biden plan and has not made a counter-proposal. With Israel still not having “officially” accepted the Biden plan, Hezbollah could advise Hamas to let Netanyahu refuse it. The Lebanese Shiite terrorist group nevertheless affirmed that the decision “is above all in the hands of the Hamas leaders.”
On the international side, we are also counting on a ceasefire in Gaza to calm the escalation in the north between Israel and Hezbollah. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant brutally rejected the French initiative for a tripartite settlement of the conflict on Friday, declaring that he preferred “to go with the American mediator Hochstein”: “If France participates, we will not be partners in the initiative.” he said, in reaction to “the hostile policies” of the French government, which banned Israeli defense companies from entering the Eurosatory exhibition.
A French official reacted to Gallant’s comments, indicating that the Elysée “is surprised to read the Israeli statements, but remains ready to work with all the actors concerned, including Israel and the United States.”
