U.S. Accepts Iran’s 10-Point Peace Proposal; Israel Refuses to Halt Lebanon Operations
According to a report by Al Jazeera on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, Washington’s acceptance of these terms—which include a comprehensive ceasefire across all fronts—marks a major shift in the administration's strategy. However, the peace initiative has faced an immediate hurdle from Tel Aviv. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office clarified on Wednesday that while they support a temporary ceasefire against Iran, their military operations in Lebanon will continue unabated, creating a fresh deadlock in the regional peace process.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement affirming his support for U.S. President Donald Trump’s broader peace initiative aimed at neutralizing Iran’s nuclear and proxy threats. Nevertheless, the Prime Minister explicitly stated that the proposed two-week ceasefire would not apply to the Lebanese front. This indicates that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intend to proceed with their ground invasion and aerial bombardment of southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah positions. This stance directly contradicts an earlier announcement by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who had stated that an immediate ceasefire was being implemented across all conflict zones, including Lebanon.
The human cost of the conflict in Lebanon has reached a critical point, with local authorities reporting at least 1,500 deaths and over one million people displaced since Israeli operations intensified on March 2. Hezbollah had previously claimed that its strikes on Israel were a direct retaliation for the assassination of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in late February. Israel's refusal to stop its northern offensive suggests that Tel Aviv views the Lebanese theater as a separate security necessity, independent of any direct deal brokered between Washington and Tehran.
Diplomatic observers suggest that Israel’s firm position on Lebanon may undermine the fragile U.S.-Iran agreement. If Hezbollah continues its rocket fire while Israel maintains its ground offensive, the broader regional de-escalation could collapse before it fully begins. As world leaders and mediators push for a total cessation of hostilities, the focus has now shifted to whether the Trump administration can pressure its primary ally into accepting a universal ceasefire. For now, the prospect of a lasting peace remains uncertain as military engagements continue to rage along the Blue Line between Israel and Lebanon.
