"Israel ruled out discussing a ceasefire with Lebanon and instead pressed Beirut to disarm Hezbollah. Lebanon, meanwhile, called for an end to the conflict, which has killed nearly 2,124 residents and displaced more than 1.1 million in its territory."
"Lebanon's ambassador to the US, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, described the talks as constructive. But she added that she had called for a ceasefire, the ability for displaced people to return to their homes, and measures to ease the humanitarian crisis in her country."
"Israel's ambassador, Yechiel Leiter, called the discussions a wonderful exchange. He highlighted points of agreement, including a push to remove Hezbollah from Lebanon. The Lebanese government made it very clear that they will no longer be occupied by Hezbollah."
"Rubio acknowledged the challenges ahead, telling reporters that progress would take time. We understand we're working against decades of history and complexities, he said."
Israel and Lebanon engaged in their first direct negotiations since 1983, hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The talks lasted over two hours, with Israel focusing on disarming Hezbollah and Lebanon advocating for a ceasefire and humanitarian measures. The ongoing military campaign has strained a fragile ceasefire established earlier. Both sides expressed positive sentiments about the discussions, with Lebanon's ambassador calling them constructive and Israel's ambassador highlighting agreements on Hezbollah's removal. However, US officials noted that significant progress would require more time due to historical complexities.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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