Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Wednesday that an unconditional cease-fire between Lebanon and Israel is "the first priority," calling for intensifying international and Arab efforts to prevent dragging the region into a large-scale war.

Energy Minister Eli Cohen on Thursday said that Israel is closer to a potential agreement with Hezbollah than it has been since the war began, but must retain the ability to take action within Lebanon if any deal is violated,

New Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has ruled out a ceasefire deal with Lebanon's pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia, contradicting media reports that a pause in fighting could be imminent after more than a year.