Netanyahu’s announcement follows intense European pressure on Israel to halt its attacks on neighboring Lebanon. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the ITN station Thursday that the attacks “shouldn’t be happening,” while French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told French broadcaster France Inter that “We strongly condemn these massive strikes.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares also heaped criticism on Israel.

Following Netanyahu’s statement, Austria’s Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger wrote on X that Israel’s intention to hold talks with Beirut was an “encouraging signal,” while underlining that it was “critically important” that Hezbollah be disarmed.

Late Tuesday evening, U.S. President Donald Trump, under pressure from soaring international oil prices, had announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran to push Tehran to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil transport route.

Israel, however, continued to strike Beirut and other targets in Lebanon in some of its heaviest attacks since the Feb. 28 start of the Middle East conflict. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, at least 303 people died Wednesday from Israeli strikes, bringing the total to 1,888 people killed in the country since the beginning of the war.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is playing the role of mediator between the warring sides, said Wednesday that the ceasefire also covered the conflict in Lebanon, but Netanyahu insisted Lebanon hadn’t been part of the agreement.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned earlier Thursday that the Israeli strikes were rendering negotiations “meaningless” and emphasized his country’s ties with “the Lebanese people.” Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Islamist militant group, holds seats in Lebanon’s parliament.

According to Israeli media, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., Yechiel Leiter, will lead the talks on behalf of Israel. However, as Netanyahu noted Thursday night on X, “There is no ceasefire in Lebanon. We are continuing to strike with full force, and we will not stop until we restore your security [in northern Israel].”

This article has been updated.