Beirut: Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah has said that his group would cease its cross-border attacks on Israel if a ceasefire was reached between Israel and Hamas. Israel's retaliatory attack after Palestinian militant group's October 7 attack sparked hostilities in the Gaza Strip, and Hezbollah has exchanged nearly daily fire with Israeli forces in support of Hamas, raising fears of a full-fledged conflict.
Nasrallah stated that "Hamas is negotiating... on behalf of the whole axis of resistance," referring to regional pro-Iran forces opposing Israel and the US. "Whatever Hamas accepts, everyone accepts and is satisfied with... We do not ask (Hamas) to coordinate with us because the battle in the first instance is theirs," he added.
Nasrallah's statement comes days after meeting with a Hamas delegation led by Foreign Relations Chief Khalil al-Hayya, and just before talks to negotiate a ceasefire and hostage release deal were about to start in Qatar on the Gaza war, which is currently in its tenth month.
Hamas has hinted that it may remove its demand for a total ceasefire, which Israel has consistently rejected, as a prerequisite for starting truce talks.
"If a ceasefire is reached, and we all hope for that... our front will cease-fire without any discussion... That is a commitment because it is a support front and we have been clear (about this) from the start. We will never allow any attack that the Israeli enemy might carry out against Lebanon (even) if there is a ceasefire in Gaza," Nasrallah said.
Israel military asks Gaza City residents to leaveThe Israeli military has directed all residents of Gaza City to move southwards to the central Gaza Strip as operations intensify in the north. The residents were ordered to leave via designated safe routes leading to shelters in Deir al-Balah and al-Zawaida. An Aircraft on July 10 dropped leaflets instructing "everyone in Gaza City" to leave the area and described the populated area in the blockaded Palestinian enclave as a "dangerous combat zone". There are still an estimated 250,000 people living in Gaza City. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported receiving calls from residents unable to leave their homes due to intense bombing. Over the past two weeks, Israeli forces have re-entered several districts in Gaza City. Hamas has stated that Israel’s renewed military activity jeopardizes ongoing negotiations for a potential ceasefire and hostage release deal. |
