Hezbollah poised to halt cross-border attacks if Gaza truce achieved, says chief Nasrallah

Head of Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah said on Wednesday that his group would cease its cross-border attacks on Israel if a ceasefire was reached between Israel andHamas, and that his group would recognise Hamas, the Palestinian ally's decision on Gaza truce negotiations.

Israel's retaliatory attack after Palestinian militant group's October 7 attack sparked hostilities in the Gaza Strip, and Hezbollah has exchanged nearly daily fire with Israeli forces in support of Hamas, raising fears of a full-fledged conflict.

Nasrallah stated, "Hamas is negotiating... on behalf of the whole axis of resistance," referring to regional pro-Iran forces opposing Israel and the US.

"Whatever Hamas accepts, everyone accepts and is satisfied with," he said.

"We do not ask (Hamas) to coordinate with us because the battle in the first instance is theirs," he added.

Nasrallah's statement comes days after meeting with a Hamas delegation led by Foreign Relations Chief Khalil al-Hayya, and just before talks to negotiate a ceasefire and hostage release deal were about to start in Qatar on the Gaza war, which is currently in its tenth month.

Hamas has signalled that it may remove its demand for a "complete" ceasefire, which Israel has consistently rejected, as a prerequisite for starting truce talks.

"If a ceasefire is reached, and we all hope for that... our front will cease-fire without any discussion," Hezbollah supremo said.

"That is a commitment because it is a support front and we have been clear (about this) from the start," he added.

"We will never allow any attack that the Israeli enemy might carry out against Lebanon (even) if there is a ceasefire in Gaza," Nasrallah added.

"We will continue fighting and doing everything necessary to bring about the desired result" in our fight against Hezbollah, "even if there is a ceasefire" in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Sunday.

According to an AFP count, since October, cross-border conflict in Lebanon has claimed the lives of around 500 individuals, the majority of them were combatants but also included 95 civilians.

According to the officials, at least 29 persons have died on the Israeli side, most of them were soldiers.

(With inputs from agencies)