Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, says Israel will continue ground operations in southern Lebanon for the time being and will not withdraw, even after a newly announced ceasefire. Katz also says Lebanese residents who are displaced from their homes by Israeli actions would not be able to return, according to his remarks reported on June 4.
The comments come one day after Israel and Lebanon say they have agreed to implement a ceasefire following talks mediated by the United States in Washington. Both reports link the ceasefire’s implementation to conditions related to Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, including a cessation of fire.
While the ceasefire is announced as part of the U.S.-mediated talks, Katz’s statement indicates that Israel is treating it as not requiring an immediate end to its current ground activities. The reports focus on Israel’s position and do not provide independent verification of whether operations have already stopped or the full details of enforcement mechanisms tied to Hezbollah’s conduct.
