Israel is said to be dissatisfied with the US handling of the ceasefire agreement with Iran, with a Wall Street Journal report indicating that it was informed and only activated in the final phase of the truce, even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly supports the move while drawing clear boundaries on its scope.According to the Wall Street Journal, Israeli officials were dissatisfied with the late notice, lack of consultation, and some provisions of the agreement, citing mediators and a source familiar with the matter. The report said that the extent of coordination was limited to a call made by US President Donald Trump to Netanyahu shortly before the ceasefire was publicly announced.The United States and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire early Wednesday, along with plans for negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.
As part of this arrangement, Iran agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a move that could help stabilize global energy supplies.Despite reported concerns, Netanyahu publicly supported the US decision. “Israel supports President Trump’s decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks on the condition that Iran immediately opens the Straits and stops all attacks on the United States, Israel, and countries in the region,” he wrote in a post on the X website.
About four hours after Trump’s announcement, Netanyahu’s office issued a statement welcoming the ceasefire, while emphasizing that it did not extend to Lebanon, despite claims to the contrary by Pakistani mediators. He said: “The United States informed Israel that it is committed to achieving these goals… The two-week ceasefire does not include Lebanon.”According to a Wall Street Journal report, Israel objected to the inclusion of Lebanon in the ceasefire framework, and considered it a separate operational front.In a televised speech, Netanyahu stressed that the truce is temporary and does not indicate the end of the conflict. “Let me be clear: we still have goals to complete, and we will achieve them – either through agreement or through renewed fighting,” he said. “We are ready to return to the fight at any moment required. Our finger is still on the trigger. This is not the end of the campaign, but it is a step on the way to achieving all our goals.
“He added: “Iran enters this pause exhausted and weaker than ever before.”In response to criticism from opposition leaders, including Yair Lapid, who described the truce as a “diplomatic disaster,” Netanyahu said the ceasefire came “in full coordination with Israel,” adding: “No, we were not surprised at the last minute,” The Times of Israel reported.Netanyahu also said that Israel struck Iran’s missile production facilities and nuclear infrastructure and disabled networks linked to the Revolutionary Guard.He reiterated that military operations against Hezbollah will continue, saying: “We continue to strike it with force,” while the army seeks to achieve its goal of disarming the group.On the ground, tensions remain high despite the truce. The ceasefire showed signs of tension on Thursday, with Hezbollah saying it fired rockets toward Israel. According to Agence France-Presse, the Iranian-backed group targeted the Israeli Kibbutz Manara near the Lebanese border “in response to the enemy’s violation of the ceasefire agreement.”The attack came after a wave of Israeli strikes on Lebanon the previous day. Israel carried out its heaviest bombing of the country since Hezbollah entered the conflict in early March, hitting multiple locations, including central Beirut. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, at least 182 people were killed and nearly 900 others injured in the strikes.
