A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah comes after President Joe Biden on Wednesday said the agreement to halt cross-border fighting between Israel and Lebanon was “aimed at a permanent cessation of hostilities.” seems to be maintained.
The war has become a humanitarian catastrophe in Lebanon, killing more than 3,500 people and displacing approximately 1.2 million people. Approximately 80 Israeli soldiers and 50 civilians were killed and 60,000 people were forced to flee their homes.
Biden said Tuesday that the United States and its partners, including France, will “ensure that the agreement, which went into effect at 4 a.m. local time Wednesday (9 p.m. ET Tuesday), is fully implemented.”
“Let me be clear: If Hezbollah or anyone else violates the agreement and poses a direct threat to Israel, Israel retains the right to self-defense in accordance with international law,” the president said from the White House.
He stressed that the agreement is in Lebanon’s best interests and supports Lebanese sovereignty, adding that the Lebanese people, like the people of Gaza, have the right to end violence and displacement. .
“The people of Gaza are going through hell. Their world has been completely shattered,” Biden said, adding that the only way for Hamas to get out of the war with Israel is to release the hostages.
He said the agreement between Israel and the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah “reminds us that peace is possible.”
“Let me say it again: Peace is possible,” the president said. “As long as that is the case, I will not let up even a moment to make that happen.”
The US Secretary of Defense also celebrated the agreement’s entry into force, calling it a “historic moment.”
“This diplomatic resolution will allow tens of thousands of civilians from both Lebanon and Israel to return safely to their homes on both sides of the border and bring an end to the violence and destruction of this conflict,” Lloyd Austin said in a statement. Probably.” .
On Tuesday afternoon, before Biden announced the deal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that his cabinet had approved the U.S.-brokered deal by a 10-1 Cabinet vote.
“Israel appreciates the United States’ contribution to this process and reserves the right to act against any threats to its security,” Netanyahu said.
A senior U.S. official said that once the deal goes into effect, artillery fire from all parties will cease and Israel’s gradual withdrawal will begin.
The official said Israeli forces in Lebanon will hold their positions and a 60-day period will begin during which Lebanese military and security forces will begin deploying to the south, a process that will not happen overnight or in a few days. he added.
“Once the Lebanese army deploys and reaches the south, Israeli forces will withdraw,” the official said, adding that all Israeli forces would withdraw within 50 to 60 days.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced early Tuesday that his cabinet would agree to a deal with Hezbollah, which began a gunfight with Israel the day after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack that killed about 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages. He said he recommended that. said an Israeli official.
Israeli military attacks in Gaza since then have killed more than 41,000 people, according to health officials in the enclave.
Hezbollah claims to be supporting the Palestinian resistance. Israel sees this as another attempt by Tehran to attack the Jewish state.
Israel also killed several of Hezbollah’s most powerful leaders, including Hassan Nasrallah, under whose control the group became the most powerful Iran-backed militia in the Middle East.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders have vowed not to stop attacking Hezbollah until 60,000 displaced northern Israelis return safely. Approximately 90 Israeli soldiers and 50 Israeli civilians have been killed since October 7, 2023.
More than 3,820 people have been killed by Israeli bombing in Lebanon since the fighting began, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, and the operation has displaced about 1.2 million people and triggered a humanitarian crisis.
A World Bank report estimates the cost of physical damage and economic losses from the Lebanon conflict at $8.5 billion.
The Lebanon conflict has become a key focus for Israel in recent months in this multi-front war in the Middle East. Part of the reason is Hezbollah’s powerful missile arsenal, which is believed to be larger than any non-state group in the world and able to overwhelm Israel’s missile defenses.
Biden said he would spend the rest of his term working toward his vision of “an integrated, safe and prosperous region, all of which strengthen America’s natural security.”
He called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and for creating “a future in which the Palestinian people have their own state, in which their legitimate aspirations are realized, and in which no one can threaten Israel or harbor terrorist groups.” He said he hopes and prays for the same. A future where Israelis and Palestinians enjoy equal security, prosperity, and certainly dignity, with Iran’s support. ”
