Hezbollah deputy leader Naim Qassem said in comments broadcast that his movement supports efforts to reach a ceasefire for Lebanon, but for the first time omitted any mention of a Gaza truce deal as a pre-condition to halting the group’s fire on Israel, Reuters reports.

Qassem said Hezbollah supported efforts by Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally, to secure a halt to fighting, which has escalated in recent weeks with Israeli ground incursions and the killing of some of Hezbollah’s top leaders, including secretary general Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

“We support the political activity being led by Berri under the title of a ceasefire,” Qassem said in a 30-minute televised address.