Nasrallah: If Hamas-Israel Ceasefire Talks Succeed, We Will Halt Our Operations

Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon, announced on Wednesday that Hamas is negotiating a ceasefire in Gaza with Israel on behalf of the entire "axis of resistance" and that Hezbollah will halt its operations without the need for separate negotiations if an agreement is reached. In a televised speech following the death of a senior Hezbollah commander, he stated, "Hamas is negotiating on behalf of itself and Palestinian groups, as well as on behalf of the entire axis of resistance. Whatever Hamas accepts, we all accept." He also warned that Hezbollah is ready for war and is not afraid of it. Nasrallah referred to the increasing number of missiles and drones that the group has fired at Israel as evidence of Hezbollah's military readiness. The axis of resistance is a coalition that has formed over the years with the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran against Israel and "U.S. influence in the Middle East," including the Houthis in Yemen and armed Shiite groups in Iraq. Following Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, which sparked the Gaza war, Hezbollah also fired at Israeli targets along the border in support of the Palestinians. The group has presented its attacks as a "support front" aimed at diverting Israeli military resources from Gaza and supporting the Palestinians. Tens of thousands of Israelis and Lebanese have been forced to evacuate from areas near the border between the two countries, and international observers have recently warned of the increasing danger of a broader conflict. Nasrallah stated that for Hezbollah, a ceasefire in Gaza is sufficient to stop its attacks, adding, "If a ceasefire is established in Gaza, our front will also cease without discussion, regardless of any agreement or mechanism or other negotiations." The former protector of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, was killed on Tuesday following an Israeli attack on a vehicle in Syria. Reuters reported, citing security sources, that the vehicle carrying "Yasernamer Qarnabesh" was targeted by Israel on the Damascus-Beirut highway. This Hezbollah member had played a role in transferring forces and weapons for the group supported by the Islamic Republic. The Israeli retaliatory attacks on Palestinian areas aimed at the "destruction of Hamas" began after this group, supported by the Islamic Republic, killed 1,200 people, most of whom were civilians, and took over 250 hostages during the attack on southern Israel on October 7 last year. The Hamas and Hezbollah groups, supported by the Islamic Republic, are listed as terrorist organizations by the U.S. and several other countries. The former protector of the leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon was killed in Syria. The Islamic Republic states that Israel's all-out war against Hezbollah will initiate a "devastating war." A warning from Biden's envoy to Hassan Nasrallah: If Hezbollah's attacks continue, the U.S. cannot stop Israel. Melanie Joly advises Canadian citizens: Do not go to Lebanon and leave while you can. The Israeli army claims to have killed another Hamas operative involved in weapon manufacturing. The Israeli army states that it has destroyed a Hamas training facility in one of the areas of Rafah. Concerns are increasing about the expansion of the war in the region; the leader of Hezbollah threatened to attack Israel and Cyprus.