Israel has publicly supported US President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend military strikes against Iran for a period of two weeks, with the caveat that the temporary pause does not extend to Lebanon, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Wednesday.
The statement clarified that Israel’s backing of the ceasefire is conditional on Tehran immediately reopening the Strait of Hormuz and halting attacks on the United States, Israel, and other regional allies. Israeli authorities emphasised that the move aligns with ongoing US efforts to de-escalate the conflict in the Middle East while creating a window for diplomatic negotiations.
Israel’s endorsement comes after Washington announced the two-week suspension of attacks on Iran as part of a broader initiative to facilitate dialogue between Tehran and the United States. The Israeli government confirmed that it supports US efforts aimed at ensuring Iran no longer poses nuclear, missile, or “terror” threats to Israel, the US, and neighboring Arab states. Officials added that Washington has assured Israel of its commitment to pursuing these shared security objectives in upcoming negotiations.
Iran has scheduled talks with the US to begin on Friday, April 10, in Islamabad, Pakistan. Two White House officials confirmed that Israel had agreed to the two-week ceasefire and would suspend its bombing campaign on Iran during this period. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who helped mediate the agreement, stated in a post on X that the ceasefire deal also includes a cessation of Israeli military operations in Lebanon, though Israel’s statement maintains that the pause does not cover Lebanese territory.
The Israeli military offensive in Lebanon has been devastating, with at least 1,500 people killed and 1.2 million displaced. Lebanon was drawn into the conflict after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in solidarity with Iran, two days following US and Israeli attacks on Iranian targets. Hezbollah’s assault prompted a new Israeli ground and air offensive, escalating the war in the region.
Israeli officials have highlighted that while they support the temporary suspension of strikes on Iran, operations in Lebanon will continue as necessary to address security threats, particularly those posed by Hezbollah’s ongoing military actions.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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