Israeli teams met on Thursday to discuss the US ceasefire proposals with Lebanon and will continue the discussions in the days ahead, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday, adding that he appreciated the US efforts.
"Our teams met (Thursday, Sept. 26) to discuss the US initiative and how we can advance the shared goal of returning people safely to their homes. We will continue those discussions in the coming days," he said in a statement.
The proposal was backed by French President Emmanuel Macron, who said an Israeli invasion of Lebanon would be a huge mistake.
"And I do believe that the US now has to increase the pressure on the prime minister of Israel to do so," Macron told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Similar truce proposed by world superpowers
Foreign Minister Israel Katz had previously rejected a similar proposal for a 21-day truce, and Netanyahu said he had ordered the military to keep fighting with full force.
According to Macron, if Netanyahu rejected the proposal, France would raise the matter at the United Nations Security Council.
The PMO stated that Netanyahu has not responded to this American-French proposal.
“The report about the purported directive to ease up on the fighting in the north is the opposite of the truth.” the statement said.
“The fighting in Gaza will also continue until all the objectives of the war have been achieved.”