Israel and Lebanon Extend Ceasefire by Three Weeks After White House Talks

The United States hosted a second round of ambassador-level talks between Israel and Lebanon at the White House on Thursday, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio mediating negotiations to extend a fragile 10-day ceasefire set to expire Sunday. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun's delegation sought to extend the truce and halt Israeli demolitions in southern Lebanon, where Israel has declared a buffer zone extending 3 to 6 miles into Lebanese territory. Hezbollah, which was not represented at the talks, urged Lebanon to cancel all direct contact with Israel through lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah. Nearly 2,500 people have been killed in Lebanon since fighting between Israel and Hezbollah erupted on March 2, with Israeli strikes killing journalist Amal Khalil on Wednesday.

Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire Extension and Negotiation Challenges

• ▪The United States hosted a second round of ambassador-level talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington on Thursday aimed at ending Israel's war with Hezbollah
• ▪Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated Lebanon's delegation entered Thursday's meeting with goals to extend the truce deal and get Israel to halt its demolitions in southern Lebanon
• ▪U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio mediated the Israel-Lebanon talks in Washington
• ▪Israeli strikes killed Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil on Wednesday in the town of Tayri
• ▪Nearly 2,500 people have been killed in Lebanon since fighting between Israel and Hezbollah erupted on March 2
• ▪Israel is represented in the Israel-Lebanon talks by its ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter
• ▪A 10-day cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon was established during initial negotiations in Washington last Tuesday
• ▪Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah urged Beirut on Thursday to cancel all forms of direct contact with Israel
• ▪Israel has declared a buffer zone that extends around 3 to 6 miles into southern Lebanon

UK-France Agreement on English Channel Migration Control

• ▪Around 41,000 people crossed the English Channel in small boats in 2025
• ▪Britain and France signed a three-year agreement worth around $640 million in 2023 that expired on March 31
• ▪The UK-France agreement includes funding for a 50-strong riot squad to contain and disperse people trying to board small vessels
• ▪London agreed to pay Paris up to $892 million to crack down on unauthorized English Channel crossings under the UK-France security deal
• ▪The UK-France agreement includes funding for 1,100 new enforcement, intelligence, and military officers
• ▪The British government signed a three-year agreement with France on Thursday that focuses on curbing the number of asylum-seekers crossing the English Channel

U.S. Senate Vote on ICE and Border Patrol Funding

• ▪Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol both fall under the Department of Homeland Security
• ▪The U.S. Senate voted 50-48 on Thursday in favor of adopting a budget framework that would fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as Border Patrol
• ▪The Department of Homeland Security has been partially shut down since mid-February

Perspective of Israel

• ▪Israel established a buffer zone extending 3 to 6 miles into southern Lebanese territory

Perspective of Donald Trump

• ▪President Donald Trump expressed optimism about prospects for a lasting Israel-Lebanon peace deal following the White House talks