Israel's UN envoy Danon credits IDF for ceasefire, slams UN chief

Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon on Thursday (April 16) credited Israeli military operations against Hezbollah for helping secure a 10-day ceasefire with Lebanon and sharply criticized U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres over remarks he said drew a false equivalence between Israel and the Iran-backed group.

Speaking to reporters at the United Nations, Danon said the ceasefire would take effect at 5 p.m. local time and said Israel had reached that point because of the Israeli military's actions in pushing Hezbollah back, including operations that he said weakened the group.

Danon accused Guterres of undermining a historic moment of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon by saying Israel and Hezbollah had "helped each other to destabilize Lebanon." Danon called the comments "shameful" and demanded that the secretary-general retract them.

He said Israel would closely monitor developments on the ground during the ceasefire and would respond if threatened. Israel would maintain its positions during the 10-day truce, he said, adding that the main challenge remained Hezbollah rather than the Lebanese government.

Danon said Israel was open to direct negotiations with Lebanon and would attend future meetings aimed at advancing peace, including in Washington if invited, though he said he could not provide a timetable.

He also accused Iran of threatening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and said Israel would press the General Assembly for greater scrutiny of what he described as secret agreements with Tehran over maritime passage.

-Roselle Chen/Reuters