Israeli and Lebanese flags are seen in this illustration taken, April 24, 2024. Image credit: Reuters
(The Post News)- Lebanese and Israeli representatives are due to meet in Washington on Thursday for a second round of negotiations aimed at extending a fragile ceasefire, despite renewed Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon that killed five people, including a journalist.
Beirut is hopeful that the US-brokered talks will extend the 10-day truce set to expire on Sunday and open the door for broader discussions.
Lebanon Seeks Extension and Protections
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the country’s envoy to Washington, Nada Moawad, will push for an extension of the ceasefire and demand an end to Israeli demolitions in southern villages.
Lebanon Sets Conditions for Next Phase
A Lebanese official said the talks will centre on extending the ceasefire and setting a timeline for higher-level negotiations. Beirut insists that prolonging the truce is essential before moving forward with key demands, including an Israeli withdrawal, the release of Lebanese detainees held in Israel, and clear land border demarcation.
Talks Unfold Amid Rising Tensions
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to attend, while Israel will be represented by its ambassador, Yechiel Leiter.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah said it launched a drone at an Israeli artillery site in response to alleged ceasefire violations. The Israeli military reported intercepting what it described as a hostile aircraft targeting its troops in southern Lebanon.
In a separate incident, Israeli strikes in the south killed journalist Amal Khalil and injured freelance photographer Zeinab Faraj. The pair had been reporting near al-Tayri when a strike hit a nearby vehicle. They sought shelter in a house that was later struck again. Rescue teams managed to pull Faraj from the rubble, but were briefly prevented from reaching Khalil due to continued Israeli fire. Khalil later died from his injuries.
Lebanese authorities say more than 2,400 people have been killed since Israel intensified its offensive in the region. Israeli forces remain stationed along a stretch of the border, describing it as a buffer zone.
The diplomatic push has been matched by sharp rhetoric. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel had made a “historic decision” to engage directly with Lebanon for the first time in decades, while also labelling the country a “failed state.”
He urged Beirut to cooperate against Hezbollah, calling it a “terror state” operating within Lebanese territory
Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt said the most Lebanon could offer is an updated version of the 1949 armistice agreement. After meeting Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who opposes direct negotiations, Jumblatt stressed the need for a clear agenda that includes Israeli troop withdrawal.
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