Ceasefire underway between Israel and Hezbollah

Published 26 November 2024 at 19.36

Domestic. A US-negotiated cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah looks set to become a reality. Both sides are now ready to withdraw from southern Lebanon.

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After intense negotiations, a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah appears to be approaching. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in a speech during the evening that his security cabinet has approved the agreement, and that it is now expected to go through a formal government-wide approval process.

The agreement, which was negotiated with the help of the United States, means that both parties to withdraw their forces from southern Lebanon within 60 days. Hezbollah is to stay north of the Litani River, while the Lebanese Army and the UN forces (UNIFIL) are to take over security in the area. Israel retains the right to intervene militarily in the event of immediate threats from Hezbollah and report lesser threats to an international committee of five countries.

Netanyahu stressed in a speech that Israel will respond severely if Hezbollah violates the agreement. At the same time, he expressed pride in the successes achieved by the Israeli military in northern Israel and Lebanon, where several of Hezbollah's leaders have been killed and infrastructure destroyed.

In Lebanon, Prime Minister Najib Mikati has called on the international community to quickly implement the ceasefire, while many residents of Beirut hope for an end to the violence. However, the situation in Gaza remains uncertain, with concerns that Israel may intensify its military operation there as the conflict in Lebanon subsides.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has welcomed progress in the negotiations and expressed hope that the agreement could help to deescalate tensions in the region and potentially lead to solutions in the Gaza conflict as well.