Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Donald Trump's decision to temporarily suspend attacks on Iran to allow for talks in Pakistan but insisted that military operations in Lebanon will continue, contradicting Pakistan's declaration that the ceasefire covers all areas.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement via the X platform saying Israel supports US President Donald Trump's decision to suspend attacks on Iran for two weeks, provided Iran immediately opens the Strait and ceases attacks against the US, Israel, and allied countries in the region.
Netanyahu emphasized that Israel agrees with US efforts to ensure "Iran will no longer pose a nuclear, missile, or terrorist threat to America, Israel, neighboring Arab countries, and the world," noting that the US government has assured Israel these goals will be achieved in upcoming talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Friday.
However, a key point causing confusion is the scope of this ceasefire, with Israel's leader clearly stating that "the two-week ceasefire does not include Lebanon."
This stance directly contradicts Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's earlier statement, as the mediation host, that the US, Iran, and allies "have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and other locations," effective immediately.
The situation in Lebanon remains critical after Israel launched heavy attacks in response to Hezbollah's rocket strikes into northern Israel following the assassination of Iran's former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, in a joint US-Israeli operation. Lebanese officials report the war has caused over 1,400 deaths, including 126 children, and displaced more than 1 million people.
Israel’s exclusion of Lebanon from the ceasefire indicates that regional tensions may not easily subside despite the opening of talks between the major powers and Iran. All eyes are on the negotiations in Islamabad this Friday for clear outcomes regarding the end of the conflict along the Lebanon front.