Israel Netanyahu speaks out in favor of ceasefire with Hezbollah

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken out in favor of a ceasefire with the Lebanese Hezbollah militia. In a speech, Netanyahu said that he would submit a corresponding draft to his cabinet for approval. At the same time, the head of government emphasized that he would react harshly to any possible violation of a ceasefire agreement by Hezbollah. "A good agreement is an agreement that is enforced. And we will enforce it."

After a year of war, Hezbollah is very weakened, Netanyahu also said. "It is not the same Hezbollah." The pro-Iranian Shia militia had been "set back by years".

Netanyahu said that Israel had killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and the rest of the leadership and destroyed most of the rocket arsenal, as well as an underground network of tunnels in the south of Lebanon. Regarding heavy air strikes before an expected ceasefire, Netanyahu said: "The earth is shaking in Beirut."

After a ceasefire, it would be possible to concentrate on the conflict with Iran, he said. In addition, the Israeli soldiers could recover from the battle and the Israeli arsenal of weapons could be renewed. With an end to the war with Hezbollah, the Islamist Hamas would remain isolated in the Gaza Strip. This could pave the way for an agreement on the release of around 100 hostages.

SDA