Israeli right-wing attack plans over potential ceasefire

Far-right Israeli politicians and coalition partners are urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reject any proposal for a 21-day truce in Lebanon which they say would give Hezbollah time to recover from recent setbacks.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich posted on X that “the campaign in the north should end in one scenario—crushing Hezbollah and denying its ability to harm the residents of the north.” He warned against giving the enemy time to “recover from the heavy blows it received and to reorganise for the continuation of the war after 21 days,” insisting that only the group’s surrender should halt the conflict in the north.

An imminent ceasefire is being reported based on a single report from Britain’s Sky News, citing unnamed US administration officials who “expect” a three-week pause to be implemented “in the coming hours”. However, Israeli officials have been quoted saying that the likelihood of a ceasefire is very slim.