Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has pointed out that instead of "panting after direct negotiations, which could be a disgrace to Lebanon," the Lebanese government should instead "turn to the International Criminal Court and accuse Israel of its repeated and ongoing war crimes against Lebanon."

Trump administration officials have said that the U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel is not collapsing, despite the growing escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.

Israeli strikes on south Lebanon killed nine people including two children, the health ministry said Thursday, shortly after the president decried ongoing Israeli violations of a nearly two-week ceasefire.

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon came into effect at midnight on 16 April. On 23 April, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the ceasefire would be extended for an additional three weeks, following a second high-level trilateral meeting between representatives of Israel, the United States and Lebanon.

Following the announcement of the ceasefire, both the Israeli military and Hezbollah called on displaced populations not to return immediately to areas south of the Litani River.

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) has expressed grave concern over alleged violations of international law arising from the recent escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, while cautiously noting that diplomatic developments following high-level discussions held at the White House in the United States between Israel’s and Lebanon’s ambassadors may influence the trajectory of the conflict.

The IBAHRI emphasized that any political progress must be accompanied by full compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law, as well as accountability for any alleged violations.

The European Union and the Ministry of Social Affairs have announced new EU funding of €45 million. For the first time in many years, EU funding will be channeled directly through a Lebanese government institution. "This marks a new phase in their partnership, working more closely with national institutions to deliver support to people across the country," the Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon said in a statement.

The announcement was made Wednesday at the Grand Serail in the presence of Minister of Social Affairs Haneen Sayed, Minister of Finance Yassine Jaber, and EU Ambassador Sandra De Waele.

Strikes continued Thursday, despite a recently extended ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, as the Israeli army struck Harouf, Jebshit, Toul, al-Henniyeh, Kawnine, Zebqine, Adshit, Qalaway, Nabatieh-Mayfadoun, Beit Yahoun, Jmayjmeh, Harees and Baraashit in south Lebanon.

It later ordered the residents of Samaiyeh, Henniyyeh, Qlayleh, Wadi Jilo, Knisseh, Kafra, Siddiqine and Majdalzoun to evacuate.

U.S. President Donald Trump has told Israel's Channel 12 that he is working on preventing the collapse of the Lebanon-Israel ceasefire over the next two weeks and beyond.

"I told (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu that he needs to act in Lebanon in a more surgical manner, not to knock down buildings. You can't do things like that. It's too terrible and makes Israel look bad," Trump added.

The Israeli army is pressuring the political leadership to return to striking Beirut, but U.S. President Donald Trump is not allowing it, according to an Israeli media report.

The Yedioth Ahronoth report emphasized that Lebanon remains tethered to the broader Iranian conflict, which does not serve Israel’s interests.

A Lebanese army soldier was killed Wednesday along with his brother in an Israeli strike that targeted the motorcycle on which they were traveling from the soldier’s work post to his home in the village of al-Sowaneh, the army said in a statement.

"A soldier and his brother were killed in an Israeli strike that targeted them in the town of Khirbet Selm in Bint Jbeil (district) while they were travelling on a motorbike" heading home, the army statement said.