Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s office has refuted reports claiming he signed a U.S.-proposed ceasefire agreement, despite his hopeful stance on achieving a truce between Hezbollah and Israel.

Though Mikati has not officially agreed to any ceasefire terms, he has voiced optimism about the possibility of halting the violence that has devastated Lebanon, leaving hundreds dead and forcing hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.

In an interview with Reuters, when asked if a ceasefire could be reached soon, he replied, “Hopefully, yes." However, he emphasized that the success of any truce would depend on Israel’s willingness to honor international resolutions.

"The key factor for a ceasefire to work is Israel's commitment to these solutions," Mikati noted.

On the Israeli side, there has been strong resistance to ceasefire discussions. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz rejected any notion of halting military operations in the north, asserting that the fight against Hezbollah would continue until victory.

"We will keep fighting Hezbollah with full force until we achieve victory and secure the safe return of northern residents to their homes," Katz stated on X.

This hardline stance is shared by members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich expressed his opposition to any pause in military action, warning that Hezbollah must not be given time to regroup. In a post on X, he said the only way to secure northern Israel and ensure displaced residents can return home is through Hezbollah’s "surrender or war."

Smotrich also called for a definitive end to Hezbollah's ability to operate along Israel’s northern border, using language similar to that deployed regarding Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Since the start of Israeli operations in Gaza following the Hamas attacks on October 7, local health officials have reported over 41,400 deaths in the enclave.

Meanwhile, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has proposed a short-term ceasefire, suggesting a temporary 7-day halt in fighting to prevent Hezbollah from reorganizing.

"We cannot accept any proposal that doesn’t remove Hezbollah from our northern border," Lapid insisted, making it clear that Israel's security concerns must be central to any ceasefire discussions.