Gallant: Even if Hezbollah ceases fire we won't

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday said that Israel will not cease fire on Lebanon’s front without guarantees.

“Even if Hezbollah ceases fire unilaterally, we will not do so until we guarantee the return of the north’s residents,” Gallant told his French counterpart.

“Should war erupt in the north, it will be difficult for Israel, but it will be destructive for Hezbollah and Lebanon,” he warned.

Around 200 people have been killed in Lebanon during more than three months of cross-border clashes, including around 145 Hezbollah fighters and over 20 civilians, among them three journalists. In northern Israel, nine soldiers and six civilians have been killed, according to Israeli authorities.

The fighting has also displaced tens of thousands of Lebanese residents and Israeli settlers on both sides of the border and Israel says it is keen on returning its settlers to their homes even if that required a military campaign.