On June 4, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem publicly rejected the ceasefire plan agreed upon by the Israeli and Lebanese governments with U.S. mediation. He stated, "As long as Israel's occupation and airstrikes continue, we will not cease our resistance."
The proposal calls for a complete cessation of fire by Hezbollah and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from areas south of the Litani River. It also includes provisions for the Lebanese army to control certain areas independently and to exclude non-state armed groups.
Hezbollah appears to view the agreement as a demand for disarmament and retreat. The fact that Hezbollah was not directly involved in the negotiations, while the Lebanese government reached an agreement with Israel, has fueled their opposition.
Israel has also drawn a line regarding any conditions that would limit its military actions. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated, "The Israel Defense Forces will not withdraw from Lebanon, nor will they cease military operations." Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon have continued.
The Lebanese government has indicated that the agreement could take effect within 24 hours if all relevant parties approve it. However, with Hezbollah's rejection and Israel's insistence on maintaining its operations, moving to the implementation phase seems unlikely.
This ceasefire proposal was initiated as part of efforts by the U.S. to lower the level of conflict on the Lebanon front ahead of negotiations with Iran. However, with both Hezbollah and Israel refusing to accept key conditions, the Lebanon front remains a variable in U.S.-Iran negotiations.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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