ALBAWABA- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has ordered the immediate opening of direct negotiations with Lebanon, focusing on the disarmament of Hezbollah and the normalization of relations, even as Israeli airstrikes continued across the country.
Netanyahu said the proposed talks should begin as soon as possible and welcomed Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s recent call for disarming non-state armed groups in Beirut, describing it as a constructive step.
The announcement came hours after US President Donald Trump urged Israel to scale back its military campaign to preserve momentum behind the 15-day US-Iran ceasefire brokered by Pakistan, which took effect on April 8 and is intended to cover all regional fronts.
Despite these calls, Israeli strikes intensified over the past 24 hours, killing around 300 people and wounding more than 1,100, according to Lebanese health authorities. The bombardment hit Beirut, Sidon, and southern border areas, worsening a humanitarian crisis that has already killed more than 1,600 people and displaced over one million since the conflict began.
Lebanese officials appealed to international partners, including Pakistan and Egypt, to intervene and halt what they described as ongoing Israeli atrocities.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated that the ceasefire applies to all fronts, warning that selective enforcement could undermine the agreement.
Iran has also pressed mediators to ensure a comprehensive ceasefire, warning it could resume retaliation and disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz if Israeli operations continue.
The developments underscore the fragility of the regional truce. While the US-Iran agreement offers a narrow window for diplomacy in Islamabad, Israel’s position that Lebanon is excluded has kept the Lebanese front active, raising the risk of a broader escalation.
