Informed Palestinian sources spoke to Al-Akhbar newspaper, citing information conveyed by Arab and regional capitals, that “the United States promised to persuade the Israeli government to agree to a short humanitarian truce, and that research is underway about what can be done during it.” The sources indicated that “the research focuses on an incomplete barter between civilian detainees held by the resistance forces in Gaza, and the entry of a large amount of aid into the Strip, including fuel, and assistance in dealing with the issue of those trapped under the rubble.”
The sources said, “The leadership of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades informed the political leadership of the movement and others that it would not release any of its military prisoners except in exchange for the release of detainees from Israeli prisons, and that it is now ready to complete a comprehensive deal if all detainees are released.”
The Palestinian sources repeated that “Israel wants a truce for hours not exceeding one day, and that it wants to release a large number of prisoners in exchange for aid only, and that this matter is unacceptable to the resistance, because the release of any Israeli civilian or military must be in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and that The 24-hour period is not enough to ensure the census process, in addition to the fact that a number of prisoners who were killed are still under the rubble, and the search for them requires quite a while. Hamas also wants to bring in medical teams to help treat the wounded inside the Gaza Strip, not materials. Medical only.”
In a separate context, the newspaper reported, “The US President’s energy security advisor, Amos Hochstein, suddenly arrived in Beirut, and held a series of meetings that included Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab, and Major General Abbas Ibrahim.” He also made a phone call to the Acting Director General of General Security, Major General Elias Al-Bisari, and Hochstein stated that he came to call on Lebanon not to get involved in the war and to put pressure on Hezbollah to do so.
Well-informed sources revealed to Al-Akhbar newspaper that “Hochstein’s visit has nothing to do with everything he declared, nor what his visitors reported about him, and that he arrived in Beirut as part of a special mission, assigned to him by the American administration, related to files related to what is happening in the Gaza Strip.” The sources refused to talk about the details of this mission, but indicated that it is part of a large operation taking place between Washington and other capitals concerned with the ongoing conflict.
However, sources quoted data from those whom the American visitor met with, such as that he “repeated the same words that US Ambassador Dorothy Shea said, as did all the ambassadors who visited Lebanon,” noting that he “received the same answer, which is that Israel must stop its attacks and “No one in Lebanon is able to give an answer on behalf of Hezbollah.” The sources explained that “Hochstein repeated warnings that Lebanon’s involvement in the war against Israel would have devastating consequences for both countries.” In some meetings, he asked what could prevent the escalation of the situation in Lebanon, and he was told that this was in “the hands of your friends in Israel.” When asked what prevented Hezbollah from engaging in the war, the answer came to him: “A ceasefire in Gaza.” However, the same sources noted that the American position “has become softer than it was before,” pointing out that there appears to be something like a discrepancy within the American administration team regarding the best approach to the rapid developments in the region.
Washington: Lebanon is a priority
In this context, Al-Jumhuriya newspaper indicated that sources familiar with the atmosphere of the meetings that Hockstein conducted in Beirut during his visit were classified as exceptionally important, and included an urgent American message confirming to all parties concerned with the southern front that “Washington is very serious in its statement that it “You do not want to see the fire of war spread to the southern Lebanon front.”
According to what the sources concluded from Hockstein’s visit, “Washington is greatly concerned about the possibility of the war extending to the Lebanon front and from there to other arenas, which may put the entire region in front of war possibilities that have no limits or controls, and from here it is distributing its efforts between direct contacts with the side.” “Israel, and between successive messages directly with the Lebanese side, as well as with other parties through various channels.”
The newspaper stated that the extremely important observation recorded by the sources was evident in “a clear change in the American tone, as Washington moved from a public threat to Hezbollah not to ignite the southern Lebanese front and engage in this war, as stated by the White House spokesman and then the minister.” US State Department Anthony Blinken, as well as senior officials in the Pentagon, called for the adoption of quiet diplomacy by sending Hockstein to Beirut carrying calm reassurances and warnings that serve the goal of keeping the southern front cool.
Al-Jumhuriya learned that “Hochstein, in the talks he held in the last hours, was not offensive towards any Lebanese party, but rather he was keen at the beginning of these meetings to show solidarity and sympathy with the families of the martyrs of the massacre that Israel committed on the Aitaroun-Ainata road, and what is noteworthy is that This sympathy was noticeable at the top of a list of items included in a written paper he was carrying. He also referred to what he called the efforts made by Washington to prevent the expansion of the war in Gaza, to conduct humanitarian truces and avoid targeting civilians.”
The newspaper pointed out that “according to reliable sources of information, the content of the written paper that Hockstein carried is summarized as follows:
First, Lebanon was and still is a priority for the United States, and it is important to maintain its security and stability.
Secondly, Washington is seriously concerned about the continuation of military operations on the southern border, and the necessity requires that they stop and there is an immediate ceasefire.
Third, the necessity of full compliance with Resolution 1701.
Fourth, Washington believes that escalation on the border is not in Lebanon’s interest, and that Israel has confirmed that it is not willing to escalate on what it considers its northern front. (This item was interpreted as a direct message from Israel).”
The Lebanese position
She pointed out that “according to reliable information, the answers that Hochstein received centered around the following:
First, a strong condemnation of the genocidal war committed by Israel in Gaza, and work must be done at all international levels to force Israel to implement an immediate ceasefire and stop the massacres and massacres targeting civilians.
Secondly, Lebanon is committed to Resolution 1701, but Israel has violated this resolution thousands of times on land, at sea and in the air, in full view of the entire world.
Third, Israel is the source of danger, and continues its attacks on the borders. The resistance is on the defensive and responding to these attacks, and the demand for a ceasefire must not be directed to the Lebanese side, but rather to Israel. Do not ask us to stop firing, but rather you must deter Israel.
Fourth, Israel is trying, through its attacks, to lure Lebanon into a wide-scale war, by expanding the scope of its attacks to populated areas, and by deliberately targeting civilians, and there is abundant evidence of the killing of a boy in the town of Yater, as well as the killing of two boys herding livestock, and before that targeting journalists and killing photojournalist Issam. Abdullah. After that, ambulances were targeted and a car belonging to the Islamic Resala Society was bombed. (It is noted here that after bombing the ambulance, Israel contacted UNIFIL requesting that a message be conveyed to the Lebanese side stating that this bombing was unintentional). Its most recent horrific crime was the targeting of a civilian car on the Ainata Road, which led to the death of three girls, the age of Al-Ward, and their grandmother. These attacks and crimes cannot go unanswered.
Fifthly, Lebanon is not in the position of the aggressor, and there has been no indication on its part about its desire to escalate matters, and according to what a senior official told the American presidential envoy, what should be known is that if these matters are repeated, and similar matters and targeting of civilians occur in any “We cannot remain idle and say clearly that no one can guarantee that things will not go to bad consequences.”
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2023-11-09 04:46:33
