An Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post that a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is getting closer, after Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun refused to speak directly with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday.
"It seems a ceasefire in Lebanon is getting closer," the source told the Post. The source added that Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump talked earlier on Thursday, amid rumors that a ceasefire could be announced within the week.
Separately, on Thursday, Aoun and Trump spoke after the Lebanese president said he would not hold a call with Netanyahu in the near future. Trump had previously stated that direct talks between the two leaders would occur soon in a Wednesday post on Truth Social.
"Trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon. It has been a long time since the two leaders have spoken, like 34 years. It will happen tomorrow. Nice!" Trump posted on Truth Social.
While Trump did not explicitly name the two participants in the slated conversation, it is assumed that he was referring to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Aoun.
Israeli, Lebanese officials offer conflicting reports on talks
Earlier, Security Cabinet member and Innovation, Science, and Technology Minister Gila Gamliel told Army Radio on Thursday morning that Netanyahu and Aoun will hold direct talks later in the day.
An Israeli defense official seperately told Axios that a ceasefire could be announced as early as Thursday night. "We are at a crossroads. Nothing is final, but it could happen today," the official said.
Agence France-Presse and Reuters both cited a Lebanese official source commenting on Trump's announcement, saying that he has no knowledge of any imminent conversation between Netanyahu and Aoun.
If a conversation does take place between the two, it would be an unusual move given the absence of official diplomatic relations between Israel and Lebanon, as well as the ongoing tensions along the northern border, with Hezbollah rocket and drone launches into Israel and IDF counterterrorism operations in southern Lebanon, aimed at disarming the terror group.
At the same time, efforts to advance an arrangement between the sides are facing challenges. Lebanon is expected to demand a ceasefire as a precondition for any public and direct talks at such a high level, while Israel remains hesitant at this stage to commit to a ceasefire, citing the need to continue operations against Hezbollah.
The talks would take place after the Security Cabinet meets to discuss the ceasefire in Lebanon, without agreeing on how to implement the halt to fighting.