The US President defined a ceasefire as “shooting in a more moderate manner” and appeared shocked to learn Hezbollah could speak as he announce a partial truce between Israel and Lebanon
Stable genius Donald Trump announced a partial truce between Israel and Lebanon – then defined a ceasefire as “shooting in a more moderate manner.”
The US President – who hosted negotiations in Washington between Israel and neighbouring Lebanon – also said militant group Hezbollah were involved in the peace talks, adding: “We actually spoke with Hezbollah for the first time. We didn’t know they spoke.”
A joint statement released on Wednesday by the US, Israel and Lebanon governments said the agreement was “contingent on a complete cessation” of attacks by the Iran-backed group and the evacuation of its fighters south of the Litani River in south Lebanon.
Speaking to reporters after the truce was announced, Trump, 79, was asked how he defined a ceasefire. He replied: “Pretty much the way it is. It’s a different part of the world. In that part of the world, ceasefire is when you’re shooting in a more moderate manner.”
One social media user said: “Nope. that’s not how ceasefire is defined anywhere.” Another said: “Okay. So not when you’re not shooting at all, just moderately shooting. Got it.”
The Oxford English Dictionary’s definition of a ceasefire is: “A command or signal to cease active hostilities. A (temporary) suspension of hostilities; an agreement made to effect this.”
Trump later said: “It’s very different kind of a thing. We actually spoke with Hezbollah for the first time ever. We didn’t know they spoke. They agreed yesterday they’re not going to shoot. Israel’s not going to shoot. We’re just going to see.”
One wag quipped online that Trump had only just discovered “Lebanese Shia are sentient”. Despite the joint commitment to a ceasefire, both sides continued fighting into Thursday morning.
Israel carried out several airstrikes in the Nabatieh area of southern Lebanon and the western Bekaa valley, while Hezbollah targeted Israeli soldiers in the village of Qantara, southern Lebanon, according to a statement by the group.
The talks came amid growing international pressure on Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and attacks on Lebanon’s sovereignty.
And it comes after it emerged Trump tore into Netanyahu an expletive-laden phone call in which he branded him “f***ing crazy” for threatening to resume airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs.