Reports: US Offers Gaza Truce if Iran and Hezbollah Refrain from Retaliation

A proposal has been made to the Iran-led axis in the region, offering to expedite efforts to reach a Gaza truce if Iran and Hezbollah refrain from retaliating against Israel over recent assassinations, according to an informed source quoted by Kuwait’s al-Anbaa newspaper.

Lebanon’s al-Liwaa newspaper reported that “the U.S. is leading serious negotiations” on this matter.

The U.S. seeks to prevent retaliation by Hezbollah and Iran in exchange for “a declaration of a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon and finalizing the (prisoner) exchange deal,” sources told al-Liwaa.

A senior Axis of Resistance leader confirmed these reports to al-Liwaa but stated that “the Axis rejects this bargain and the retaliation is certain.”

“Any negotiations would begin after the response and not before it,” the leader added.

Al-Akhbar newspaper noted that “intensive contacts were held over the past two days with the hope of reaching a truce in Gaza within days, which according to a U.S.-Egyptian assumption would precede the response of the Axis of Resistance.”

Despite growing fears of a regional war, the White House insisted Wednesday that Israel and Hamas are still close to a ceasefire deal.

“We are as close as we think we have ever been” to a deal for a Gaza ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas, U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

U.S. officials have recently stated that a deal is close, urging both Israel and Hamas to accept the current proposal for an initial six-week truce.

On Tuesday, the White House indicated that negotiations had “reached a final stage,” following calls between President Joe Biden and the leaders of Qatar and Egypt, though details were not elaborated.

The United States is working to prevent an all-out war in the region and has moved planes and warships to the area to help defend Israel if necessary.

“We’re involved in some pretty intense diplomacy here across the region,” Kirby said.

He added that he was “not going to talk about intelligence assessments” regarding when, or whether, Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah might attack.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned on Tuesday that he had urged both Iran and U.S. ally Israel to avoid escalating the conflict.