Israel’s newly appointed Defence Minister Israel Katz rejects Lebanon ceasefire for now, vows continued strikes on Hezbollah
Katz said, while addressing the first meeting with the IDF General Staff Forum
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“if the possibility arises and a good proposal is put forward that would allow us to claim victory… we will certainly consider it very seriously”
“there will be no ceasefire and there will be no break in the strikes against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon"
Hostages
On the Gaza Strip, Katz said the most important goal is returning the hostages
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“We will do everything to bring them home and ensure the defeat of Hamas”
Israel and Russia
Earlier in the day, Israel had said, 1. there was progress in talks about a Lebanon ceasefire 2. and indicated Russia could play a part by stopping Hezbollah rearming via Syria
the Iran-backed group said it had not received any new truce proposals
