His criticism was echoed by the mayors of several towns in northern Israel, which has borne the brunt of Hizbollah’s rocket launches over the past year, with David Azoulay, mayor of Metula, calling the proposal “shameful” and “an agreement of surrender . . . to Hizbollah, an arm of Iran”.

In southern Lebanon, Israel said its forces reached the Litani River, a significant marker in the war. Israel has demanded Hezbollah pull its forces back north of the river.