According to recent reports, Israel has expressed its willingness to take a ‘political step’ towards Lebanon

This week, a French delegation consisting of diplomats and high-ranking military officers arrived in Israel. France is actively seeking a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing tensions along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, as reported by Israeli media.

Channel 13 in Israel revealed that this delegation is scheduled to hold discussions with representatives from Israel’s foreign and defense ministries. Israeli officials have communicated to France and the United States their readiness to pursue a diplomatic route to avoid a potential military operation in the northern region.

However, Israeli authorities have cautioned that the window for such diplomatic efforts is narrowing, stressing the urgency of the situation.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas, which commenced on October 7, has heightened tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border. This area has witnessed escalating exchanges of fire, predominantly between Israel and Hezbollah, but also involving Palestinian groups.

Since the beginning of the hostilities in October, more than 110 fatalities have occurred on the Lebanese side, predominantly Hezbollah combatants and over a dozen civilians, as per an AFP report. On the Israeli side, the conflict has claimed the lives of six soldiers and three civilians, according to Israeli sources.

Hezbollah, which has maintained a low-profile military presence on Lebanon’s southern border since the end of the 2006 conflict with Israel, has stated it resumed its activities in support of Hamas following the latter’s unexpected attack on Israel on October 7.

United Nations peacekeepers are stationed on the border as part of the U.N. Security Council Resolution that brought the 2006 war to an end.