The "New York Times" reported that after nine months of conflict between Israel and "Hezbollah," the danger of a full-scale war is higher than ever. However, it noted that mediators between the two sides hope that the ceasefire in Gaza will provide an impetus for withdrawal along the Israeli-Lebanese border. According to three Western officials familiar with both sides' positions and an Israeli official, the end of the war in Gaza could lead to negotiations between Israel and "Hezbollah" for a formal ceasefire.
These negotiations would focus on the withdrawal of "Hezbollah" fighters from the southernmost areas of Lebanon to allow for the deployment of more Lebanese army soldiers. The officials stated that talks would also concentrate on how to demarcate the western parts of the border between the two countries. They announced that even if these negotiations fail, the hope is that their initiation would provide both sides a pretext to maintain an unofficial ceasefire and give displaced populations the confidence to return to their homes. The "New York Times" highlighted that Israel and Hezbollah's openness to such negotiations indicates that both sides, despite their retaliatory strikes and public rhetoric, are secretly seeking an alternative framework that allows them to de-escalate while saving face.
