By Athena Papakosta

The first diplomatic attempt at de-escalation failed. Israel appears to be rejecting a three-week ceasefire proposal tabled by seven Western and three Arab states.

As recorded by the British Sky News, Western diplomats accuse Israel’s prime ministerBenjamin Netanyahu, that he is playing a double game, stressing that behind closed doors he agreed to accept the proposal for a truce, but publicly did the exact opposite.

“Israel will continue to strike with all its might Hezbollahhe said after his plane landed in the United States.

The optimism for reaching an agreement that was discernible until early Thursday morning (Greece time) quickly began to dim, and those diplomats – even from countries that keep communication channels open with Lebanon and Iran – were talking about a cease-fire “within the next hours” they fell silent.

“There will be no ceasefire in the North,” Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Platform X, reflecting the anger that was born back in Israel at ministerial level.

As analysts note, the confidence of the United States in its close ally, Israel, received another blow. Now all eyes are on the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahuwho today steps up to the floor of the United Nations General Assembly and is expected to open at least some of his papers, further illuminating (?) his country’s intentions.

At present the rhetoric of the players in this war arena is reflected in their military action, which is increasingly escalating. Indicative is the new position of the Israeli Minister of Defense, Yoav Galand, who reiterated that the Israeli Armed Forces continue their sequence of operations focusing “on the extermination of Hezbollah terrorists, the dismantling of its offensive infrastructure and the destruction of rockets and missiles her”. As he noted, “our missions in view are clear and we are determined to ensure the safe return of Israeli residents back to their homes in the North”.

It was preceded by the extermination of another Hezbollah commander, in charge of a drone unit, after a precision strike in the south of Beirut. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, 92 people were killed on Thursday, while according to a statement from the Israeli Armed Forces, Israel hit about 220 Hezbollah targets.

The president of France Emmanuel Macronstresses that Paris opposes Lebanon becoming the new Gaza and reiterates its call for a ceasefire, adding that it would be wrong for Benjamin Netanyahu not to accept the ceasefire agreement.

According to the British BBC network, on the sidelines of the work at the General Assembly of the United Nations, talks are underway in order to keep this proposal… alive.

American officials are talking to their Israeli counterparts. The US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, meets with the Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, while the White House responds to the storm of reactions brought to Israel by the proposal of the United States, the G7 and the Arab states for a ceasefire. In particular, Karin Jean-Pierre pointed out that it was submitted “in coordination” with the Israeli leadership – and thus was not a surprise – while it was agreed with the expectation that Israel would take it seriously.

All eyes are on the under-pressure – both domestically and internationally – Netanyahu, who may have said “we are continuing”, but – at least – he did not rule out a future deal. Last year from the floor of the General Assembly he explained how a historic agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia could reshape the Middle East. He had even repeated the word peace 42 times, even presenting a map titled “the new Middle East”. Today the Middle East has changed but it will be enough to say the word peace just once.