Netanyahu Rejects Ceasefire Amid Escalating Conflict

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has firmly rejected a US and European Union-backed 21-day ceasefire proposal, vowing to continue military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon 'with full force' until all of Israel's goals are achieved. This stance has strained relations with long-time ally President Joe Biden, who, along with French President Emmanuel Macron, advocates for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. The Israeli military has significantly escalated its assaults, killing senior Hezbollah figures, including a top missile commander. The ongoing violence has resulted in hundreds of casualties in Lebanon and the evacuation of thousands of Israelis from the north. Netanyahu's administration insists that halting operations now would allow Hezbollah to regroup, while US-led mediation efforts continue to seek an end to hostilities.