President Aoun accused Hezbollah of acting against Lebanon's national interests, stating that the group gave no weight to Lebanon's interests or to the lives of its people and wanted the collapse of the Lebanese state under aggression and chaos. He said the war has taken a devastating toll on Lebanon, with more than 700,000 people displaced, including 200,000 children, and hundreds killed in Israeli strikes over the past nine days, according to the United Nations. Aoun described the displacement crisis, noting that some people are on the roads without shelter or basic necessities. The exact number of casualties and displaced persons in Lebanon from the recent conflict remains unverified independently, though the figures are attributed to the UN.
Under President Aoun's four-point plan, a complete truce would coincide with the disarmament of Hezbollah, and international assistance for the Lebanese Armed Forces would help them regain control of areas of tension. The plan includes Lebanon and Israel beginning direct negotiations under international sponsorship to execute the plan, as stated in an official statement from Aoun's office. It is unclear what specific international sponsorship or mediators are envisioned for these proposed negotiations. Aoun outlined this path towards permanent security and stability arrangements on Lebanon's borders during the EU meeting.
Some of them are on the roads. They have no shelter and not even the most basic necessities of life.
A spokesperson for President Joseph Aoun said Lebanon was ready to negotiate, but not while the country remained under Israeli fire. The Lebanese government declared last week that Hezbollah's military operations were illegal, though the state currently lacks the capacity to disarm the group on its own. How the Lebanese government plans to disarm Hezbollah given its stated lack of capacity to do so on its own remains an open question, and it is unknown whether Hezbollah has responded to Aoun's criticism and the government's declaration that its military operations are illegal.
Israeli officials have shown little sign of backing negotiations, and the government did not immediately comment. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Lebanese government directly on X last week, writing that it is their responsibility to enforce the ceasefire agreement and disarm Hezbollah. Joshua Zarka, Israel's ambassador to France, said on Tuesday that Beirut had not taken meaningful steps toward disarming Hezbollah. Zarka added that he is not aware of any decision to enter negotiations to end this war, and that what would end it is the disarmament of Hezbollah, which is a choice for the Lebanese government. Whether Israel will agree to direct negotiations with Lebanon as proposed by President Aoun is uncertain.
At this stage, I'm not aware of any decision to enter negotiations to end this war. What would end it is the disarmament of Hezbollah - and that is a choice for the Lebanese government.
A ceasefire was agreed to between Israel and Lebanon in November 2024 under US and French mediation, but it has largely failed to hold. Israel has continued near-daily strikes in Lebanon, accusing Hezbollah of trying to rearm and rebuild its presence.