In a shocking revelation, Lebanon’s foreign minister Abdallah Bou Habib on Thursday said that Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to a “complete ceasefire” moments before Nasrallah was killed in an airstrike.
When asked whether Hassan Nasrallah had agreed to a ceasefire, Bou Habib replied, “Yes, he agreed. The Lebanese House Speaker, Mr. Nabih Berri, talked with Hezbollah we agreed completely… we informed the Americans and the French what had happened. They told us that Mr. Netanyahu had also agreed to the statement that was issued…”
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah had agreed to the 21-day ceasefire with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just days before he was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut last week, Lebanon Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib told American broadcaster PBS.
The US and allies had advocated for a 21-day ceasefire to de-escalate tensions between Israel and Hezbollah on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz rejected the proposals and delivered a statement on X saying, “There will be no ceasefire in the north…We will continue to fight against the Hezbollah terrorist organization with all our strength until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes.”
Earlier in August, the US had proposed a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Although Israelis accepted the proposal and agreed to a ceasefire, Hamas rejected it, raising new concerns and conflicts in the region. The Iran-backed Hamas called for reversing the Gaza Ceasefire deal and accused the US of acquiescing to new conditions from Israel.
The death of Hassan Nasrallah delivered a massive blow to Hezbollah’s command structure. His assassination has created a power vacuum within Hezbollah, potentially leading to internal strife and a struggle for leadership. Additionally, his death is seen as a strategic victory for Israel and its allies, potentially shifting the balance of power in the Middle East.
Hassan Nasrallah, who held the honorific title of sayyid, was a prominent figure in the entire Middle Eastern political landscape. Despite his immense power and influence, Nasrallah spent the last years of his life in hiding, fearing Israeli assassination attempts. He communicated with his followers primarily through satellite-linked speeches, maintaining his influence from the shadows.
Nasrallah was among Hezbollah’s founders when the party was formed by Iranian Revolutionary Guard members who came to Lebanon in the summer of 1982 to fight invading Israeli forces. Two days after its leader, 39-year-old Sayyed Abbas Musawi, was killed in an Israeli helicopter gunship raid in south Lebanon, Hezbollah chose Nasrallah as its secretary-general in February 1992.
Israel Bans UN Secretary General
Israel has barred the secretary general of the United Nations, António Guterres, from entering the country, declaring him a persona non grata, Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday, criticizing him for failing to forcefully condemn Iran’s latest missile attack on Israel.
Guterres has repeatedly condemned the attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 and demanded that all hostages taken from Israel that day be released. He condemned an Iranian missile and drone attack on Israel in April. At the same time, he has also repeatedly called for a cease-fire in Gaza and criticized what he called the collective punishment of Palestinians in the enclave.
The UN later issued a statement saying that despite the ban, the body will continue interactions with Israel in the hopes of achieving a peaceful resolution.
Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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