The deputy leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah has said that Israel is “not in a position” to impose its preferences over the group’s presence in the border area while fighting in Gaza rages, AFP reports.

Hezbollah number two Naim Qassem said Israel was putting forward proposals and “trying to show that it has options” to help return displaced Israeli residents and push Hezbollah from the border area.

“Israel is not in a position to impose its options,” Qassem said in a speech, warning that Israel “first must stop the Gaza war in order for the war in Lebanon to stop”.