Published On 4/24/2026
The second negotiating round between Lebanon and Israel reveals an extension of the ceasefire for an additional 3 weeks, coupled with major challenges placed by Washington in front of official Lebanon.
According to a report prepared by Al Jazeera correspondent Adham Abu Al-Hossam, the first challenge lies in the statements of US President Donald Trump, which granted Israel “freedom of movement to defend itself,” with what he called “delicate surgical operations.”
This formula is translated in Beirut as a green light for the continuation of artillery shelling and marches against civilians, as the Lebanese Ministry of Health announced the death of three civilians as a result of their car being targeted on the Nabatieh-Shoukin road.
The report points out the second challenge represented by Trump’s invitation to a meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – who is wanted by the International Criminal Court – in the White House.
The report recalls a previous statement by President Aoun in which he completely ruled out this meeting, setting controls for the negotiations that include a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of the occupation forces, and the return of prisoners and displaced persons.
According to the reporter, the third challenge – which is the most difficult – is Trump’s talk about America’s direct support for Lebanon to protect it from Hezbollah.
The problem lies in the fact that Hezbollah is an essential component of the Lebanese parliament, government, and social fabric, with an internal consensus that stability and civil peace are a red line.
Absence of official reaction
On the other hand, the report notes the absence of any official comment from Lebanon or Hezbollah on Trump’s statements after the second round. The report is based on previous statements by Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem about the lack of patience with Israeli violations or the slow diplomatic path, vowing to respond to the extent necessary.
Regarding the escalating reactions from Hezbollah over the past few days, the report indicates that the party targeted gatherings of the occupation forces with assault drones and anti-tank missiles, in addition to targeting the “Shtola” settlement in the Upper Galilee and shooting down reconnaissance drones.
This comes as part of a response to Israeli violations that have not stopped since the truce took effect, resulting in 8 martyrs, 11 wounded, and a thousand destroyed housing units.
On the other hand, a remarkable paradox is recorded – according to the report – official Lebanon was focusing on two points in the negotiations:
But this last point was completely absent from the statements of Trump, Foreign Minister Marco Rubio, and Lebanese Ambassador Nada Moawad, who did not comment on any of these files.
Jump over the negotiation track
The report concludes that Trump is jumping over the entire promised negotiation path, according to what is understood in Lebanon, where actual negotiations were scheduled to begin in Cyprus or a European capital headed by the former ambassador to the United States. United Simon Karam, to determine a mechanism, place, time and road map.
But the absence of details and outcomes of the second round increases the complexity of the political scene, with internal division and a difference in approach between the Lebanese adherence to a complete withdrawal to the international border, and the Israeli declaration of the “yellow line,” which Beirut describes as an occupation zone.
On April 14, Washington witnessed the first round of talks since 1993 between Lebanon and Israel, which have been in a state of continuous official war since 1948. Only two days after these talks, America announced a 10-day truce. This truce comes in light of a war that left more than 2,400 dead in Lebanon and displaced more than a million people.
