A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah could lead to the terrorist organization leaving southern Lebanon and the IDF withdrawing its troops.
The deal, which reportedly has the support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, could bring an end to the nearly two-month Israeli incursion.
A source within the Prime Minister’s government said this the Daily Telegraph that the Israeli cabinet will vote on the proposals prepared today by the United States.
These new ceasefire plans, based largely on a UN Security Council resolution, call for Israel to withdraw its troops from Lebanon, while Hezbollah must leave the south of the country.
If the country backs the deal, Israel is expected to get US guarantees that it can act against violations of the deal, as long as it coordinates with Washington.
At the same time, a lead US monitoring committee will be responsible for overseeing Hezbollah’s activities in Lebanon.
The Lebanese government has expressed support for the agreement but has objected to future violations of their sovereignty.
It is within Israel that opposition to the proposal is strongest, with far-right Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir calling the deal “a big mistake.”
A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah is in the works – and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) is said to support it
Hezbollah fighters. This new ceasefire proposal, based largely on a UN Security Council resolution, says Israel should withdraw its troops from Lebanon, while Hezbollah should withdraw its troops from the south of the country.
Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh, in Beirut, Lebanon, on November 25. To date, the Lebanese Health Ministry estimates that at least 3,754 people have died in the country since October 2023, the most since September.
Others have objected to France’s involvement in the deal negotiations after Paris threatened to arrest Netanyahu if he visited.
This comes in response to the arrest warrant issued against Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court.
Israeli media have reported that the ceasefire would be the first step of the peace deal, which, if successful, could start negotiations over the long-disputed land border.
It calls for an initial two-month ceasefire, during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River.
The United States is leading diplomatic efforts to end fighting in Lebanon, where Israel escalated its air campaign in late September and launched a ground offensive in the south after nearly a year of cross-border fire with Hezbollah.
To date, the Lebanese Health Ministry estimates that at least 3,754 people have died in the country since October 2023, most since September.
On the Israeli side, 82 soldiers and 47 civilians have been killed in thirteen months.
Israel has been trying to drive Hezbollah out of its strongholds in southern Lebanon and the outskirts of Beirut, while around 60,000 people have been displaced from northern Israel by the conflict.
It is within Israel that opposition to the proposal is strongest, with far-right Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (pictured) calling the deal “a big mistake.”
Joe Biden with Netanyahu. The United States is leading diplomatic efforts to end fighting in Lebanon, where Israel escalated its air campaign in late September and launched a ground offensive in the south after nearly a year of cross-border fire with Hezbollah.
Damaged buildings in Gaza. Currently, no agreement has been reached to end the war between Israel and Hamas, which has struggled to make little to no progress. Earlier this month, Qatar suspended its work as a mediator in ceasefire talks and the release of hostages between the two
In recent months, the military has killed almost all of the group’s leaders. But international pressure is increasing as there are fears that the conflict could turn into a regional war.
The withdrawal would be accompanied by an influx of thousands more Lebanese army troops, largely sidelined during the war, to patrol the border area alongside an existing UN peacekeeping force.
The deal mirrors the existing Resolution 1701, which critics say did little to keep Hezbollah at bay.
Hezbollah has never ended its presence in southern Lebanon, while Lebanon says Israel has regularly violated its airspace and occupied small parts of its territory.
Since Hamas’ attacks on October 7, 2023, Hezbollah has fired at least 13,000 rockets and drones into Israel, killing 75 people.
Currently, no agreement has been reached to end the war between Israel and Hamas, which has struggled to make little to no progress. Earlier this month, Qatar suspended its work as a mediator in ceasefire and hostage release talks between the two.
This follows reports that US officials reportedly said they would no longer accept the presence of Hamas representatives at the talks, while accusing the group of rejecting new proposals to end the war.
More than 43,000 Palestinians and 1,706 Israelis have been killed since the conflict began.