US pushes for cease-fire as Israel escalates fight against Hezbollah

October 30, 2024

Rescuers work at a site damaged in the aftermath of an Israeli strike in Sohmor, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, October 30, 2024.

REUTERS/Maher Abou Taleb

Senior White House officials are traveling to Israel on Thursday as the Biden administration continues to push for an end to hostilities in the Middle East.

The US is reportedly proposing a 60-day cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group based in Lebanon. Washington hopes that a two-month period will lead to the resurrection of a UN resolution that ended the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war but was never fully enforced.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahureportedly discussed the prospect of a cease-fire with top officials on Tuesday, suggesting that he’s taking the idea seriously.

But major obstacles remain – namely that Israel is continuing to escalate the fight. On Wednesday, for example, Israel ordered the evacuation of an entire city in eastern Lebanon, a move that Beirut-based journalist Kim Ghattasdescribed as “insanity” and a “first since this war started.”

Meanwhile, Hezbollah’s new leader, Naim Kassem, on Wednesday said the militant group will only accept cease-fire terms it finds acceptable. “If the Israelis decide to stop the aggression, we say that we accept, but according to the conditions that we see as suitable,” Kassem said, implying his side will keep fighting Israel until it’s given favorable truce terms. “We will not beg for a cease-fire,” he added. Kassem, who officially replaced Hassan Nasrallah on Tuesday, has also offered mixed signals on whether Hezbollah will continue to condition a cease-fire agreement on an end to the war in Gaza.

We’ll be watching to see if there are any signs of progress after US officials meet with Netanyahu on Thursday.

China’s “dangerous” helicopter maneuver escalates tensions with US and Philippines

A Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy Harbin Z-9 helicopter sits on CNS Yulin during a display of warships ahead of an exhibition at Changi Naval Base in Singapore on May 18, 2015.

REUTERS/Edgar Su

A Chinese naval helicopter flew nearly 10 feet from a Philippine patrol plane on Tuesday over a contested reef in the South China Sea, escalating tensions with Manila and Washington in the airspace over international waterways Beijing claims as its own.

US pushes for cease-fire as Israel escalates fight against Hezbollah

GZEROMEDIA

More from GZERO Media

Trump media company sues Brazilian Supreme Court justice. Why?

The move expands the Trump Administration's free speech clashes to Brazil, raising tensions between the two largest economies in the Americas.

Graphic Truth: Is Donald Trump signing more executive orders than normal?

All presidents issue executive orders, but in the first month of his second presidency, Trump has been signing them like they're going out of style.

GZERO Explains: Trump tries to tighten grip on independent agencies

The Trump administration is moving to expand presidential authority over key independent regulatory agencies that were set up to be guarded from the executive’s influence.

Is free speech under attack in Europe? Roberta Metsola weighs in

“There is a sort of doubt about freedom of expression here or protection of free speech in Europe,” says Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament.

Hard Numbers: Pentagon to plan for cuts, Germany comes up late, Manila issues mosquito bounties, Hamas to release more hostages

GZEROMEDIA

Trump feuds with Zelensky, cozies up to Putin

The war of words between US President Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky has hit a new low, with Trump labeling the Ukrainian president a “dictator” who “has done a terrible job.”

Election-eve shifts in Germany?

The CDU/CSU is very likely to win, making Friedrich Merz the country’s new chancellor. But he’s likely to lead a coalition government with a weak mandate, in part because he has vowed to reject any cooperation with the AfD.

The fight for democracy against “Europe’s last dictator”

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tikhanovskaya joins GZERO Reports to discuss the fight against Lukashenko’s dictatorship, Belarus’ ties to Russia, and why she believes her country’s future depends on Ukraine’s victory.

China’s “dangerous” helicopter maneuver escalates tensions with US and Philippines

A Chinese naval helicopter flew nearly 10 feet from a Philippine patrol plane on Tuesday over a contested reef in the South China Sea, escalating tensions with Manila and Washington in the airspace over international waterways Beijing claims as its own.

The role of nuclear in a net-zero transition

US pushes for cease-fire as Israel escalates fight against Hezbollah

GZEROMEDIA

Subscribe to GZERO Media's newsletter: Signal

More from GZERO Media

The move expands the Trump Administration's free speech clashes to Brazil, raising tensions between the two largest economies in the Americas.

All presidents issue executive orders, but in the first month of his second presidency, Trump has been signing them like they're going out of style.

The Trump administration is moving to expand presidential authority over key independent regulatory agencies that were set up to be guarded from the executive’s influence.

“There is a sort of doubt about freedom of expression here or protection of free speech in Europe,” says Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament.

GZEROMEDIA

Subscribe to GZERO Media's newsletter: Signal

The war of words between US President Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky has hit a new low, with Trump labeling the Ukrainian president a “dictator” who “has done a terrible job.”

The CDU/CSU is very likely to win, making Friedrich Merz the country’s new chancellor. But he’s likely to lead a coalition government with a weak mandate, in part because he has vowed to reject any cooperation with the AfD.

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tikhanovskaya joins GZERO Reports to discuss the fight against Lukashenko’s dictatorship, Belarus’ ties to Russia, and why she believes her country’s future depends on Ukraine’s victory.

A Chinese naval helicopter flew nearly 10 feet from a Philippine patrol plane on Tuesday over a contested reef in the South China Sea, escalating tensions with Manila and Washington in the airspace over international waterways Beijing claims as its own.