Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has dismissed a French initiative intended to lower the rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah amid increasing fears of a full-scale war between the factions.

On Friday, Gallant stated that Israel would not engage in a French-proposed tripartite group with the United States and France, criticizing Paris's stance on the Gaza conflict.

“As we fight a just war to protect our citizens, France has adopted policies that are antagonistic toward Israel,” Gallant asserted in a statement. “By doing so, France overlooks the brutal acts committed by Hamas against Israeli civilians including children and women. Therefore, Israel will not join the trilateral framework suggested by France.”

It is unclear whether Gallant, who is under investigation by International Criminal Court prosecutors for war crimes, was voicing the stance of the entire Israeli government or just his office.

There have been instances where Israeli ministers issued conflicting statements on identical topics, including the nation's acceptance of the US proposal for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.

Later on Friday, various Israeli media outlets reported that officials from Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs disagreed with Gallant’s statement regarding France, terming it “incorrect and inappropriate”.

Paris has consistently condemned the deadly October 7 attacks by Hamas in Israel but has also criticized the Israeli actions in Rafah, southern Gaza, urging the country to adhere to international humanitarian law. Israeli strikes in Gaza have resulted in over 37,000 Palestinian deaths since October 7.

French President Emmanuel Macron proposed the Lebanon initiative on Thursday following days of rising tensions at the Lebanese-Israeli border. With close ties to Lebanon, France has sought to promote a negotiated settlement.

“Along with the United States, we agreed on the idea of a trilateral [contact group] – Israel, the United States, and France – to progress on the roadmap we proposed, and we will mirror this with the Lebanese authorities,” Macron explained.

In February, Paris put forward a plan to cease hostilities, which involved Hezbollah retreating 10km (6 miles) from the border, Israel stopping its attacks on southern Lebanon, and negotiations on contested border regions.

Hezbollah has indicated that any diplomatic resolution can only be achieved after the cessation of Israel’s war in Gaza. The Lebanese organization commenced attacks on military bases in northern Israel following the war's outbreak in Gaza, claiming it as a “support front” to aid Palestinian armed groups.

In retaliation, Israel has bombed various villages in southern Lebanon and targeted Hezbollah positions. Despite these frequent skirmishes, confrontations have largely been confined to the border region.

The intensity of cross-border clashes has surged in recent weeks, heightening the possibility of a significant conflict.

On Thursday, Hezbollah claimed it launched 150 rockets and deployed 30 suicide drones at Israeli military positions in reaction to the killing of one of its senior commanders. Later that day, an Israeli airstrike killed two women and wounded 15 other civilians in the southern Lebanese village of Jinata.

Hezbollah announced several military activities against Israel on Friday, including a claimed rocket attack on a building housing Israeli soldiers.

Tens of thousands of residents in southern Lebanon and northern Israel have evacuated their homes due to the escalating violence.

Hezbollah has declared its readiness for war if Israel initiates a significant offensive, while Israeli officials have vowed to drive Hezbollah fighters further from Israel's border.

US and Western officials have cautioned against an escalation in Lebanon.

“We will continue to strive for calm in northern Israel and seek a diplomatic resolution enabling the displaced Israelis and Lebanese to return home,” US Department of State spokesman Matthew Miller stated on Thursday.

“We continue to believe that a ceasefire in Gaza is the optimal means to achieve such a diplomatic resolution.”