Israel’s prime minister indicated that he “did not even respond” to proposals aimed at bringing about a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, as Israeli forces continued raining down air strikes on Lebanon.

On Thursday, US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron published a joint statement calling for a 21-day truce, aimed at paving the way for broader negotiations for a permanent ceasefire.

Just hours later, however, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office rejected the idea.

“The news about a ceasefire - not true. This is an American-French proposal, to which the prime minister did not even respond,” his office said.

“The prime minister instructed the [Israeli army] to continue the fighting with full force, and according to the plans presented to them,” it said, adding that hostilities would continue in Gaza too.