Live Updates: Israel Strikes Lebanon, US Pushes for Ceasefire

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to discuss a proposed temporary ceasefire with Hezbollah during talks at the United Nations General Assembly, an Israeli official told CNN.

While the Israeli prime minister dismissed suggestions that a ceasefire was imminent — instead stressing that the IDF would continue fighting “with all its might” — the source said it was noteworthy that Netanyahu did not deny reports that the United States was pushing for a 21-day ceasefire.

A ceasefire plan proposed by the United States and its allies in an attempt to halt a wider war in the region was described by a senior US official as a “significant breakthrough.”

Here’s what else you should know:

• Netanyahu comments: Responding to reports that a ceasefire was “imminent,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement: “The reports of a ceasefire are incorrect. This is an American-French proposal, to which the prime minister has not even responded.” Foreign Minister Israel Katz also said that Israel would continue to fight Hezbollah “with all our might.” But the Israeli source said that the main reason for Netanyahu’s visit to the UN General Assembly was diplomatic talks, and that “Israel prefers a diplomatic solution.”

• Ceasefire plan: Details are scarce, but we do know that the United States and its allies are pushing for a 21-day ceasefire that would allow a temporary halt to the fighting and allow for diplomacy. President Joe Biden said the plan was backed by the United States, Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

• Right-wing politicians attack Netanyahu: Right-wing Israeli ministers on Thursday expressed dismay at reports that the United States is pushing for a weeks-long ceasefire in Lebanon, and the silence from the Israeli prime minister. “The enemy must not be given time to recover from heavy blows,” far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Channel 10.

• The strikes continue: The Israeli military said it struck about 75 targets in Lebanon overnight. The military said it was continuing to “dismantle and weaken” Hezbollah’s infrastructure and capabilities. Meanwhile, sirens sounded in northern Israel as about 45 rockets were fired toward the country from Lebanon this morning, the Israeli military said.

• Thousands of displaced peopleFleeing Israeli bombardment, thousands of internally displaced people in Lebanon have headed to the Mediterranean coastal city of Sidon, where schools have been opened to house them. Read their stories here. Separately, 70,000 people are registered in shelters across the country.