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In a significant development in West Asia, Israel has agreed to a ceasefire with Lebanon. The agreement comes into effect at midnight (Israel time) on November 27.
Israel's Security Cabinet, the country's top decision-making body under the government has agreed to the ceasefire. "The length of the ceasefire depends on what happens in Lebanon. We will enforce the agreement and respond forcefully to any violation. We will continue united until victory," Prime Minister Netanyahu said in his speech after the agreement.
"We will complete the task of obliterating Hamas, we will bring home all of our hostages, we will ensure that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel and we will return the residents of the north back home safely. The war will not end until we realize all its goals, including the return of the residents of the north safely home. And I tell you, it will happen, just like it happened in the south," Mr Netanyahu added.
He then gave 3 reasons why Israel agreed to the ceasefire:
"The first reason is to focus on the Iranian threat, and I won't expand on that.
The second reason is to give our forces a breather and replenish stocks. And I say it openly, it is no secret that there have been big delays in weapons and munitions deliveries. These delays will be resolved soon. We will receive supplies of advanced weaponry that will keep our soldiers safe and give us more strike force to complete our mission.
And the third reason for having a ceasefire is to separate the fronts and isolate Hamas. From day two of the war, Hamas was counting on Hezbollah to fight by its side. With Hezbollah out of the picture, Hamas is left on its own. We will increase our pressure on Hamas and that will help us in our sacred mission of releasing our hostages."
Israel and Lebanon-based, Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah have been at war for several months now. Hezbollah had started attacking Israel with rockets and projectiles for over a year leading to a retaliation from Tel Aviv. Hezbollah has been backing Hamas, another Iran-backed militant group which it considers its ally.
Israel and Hamas have been at war since October 2023, when the terrorists breached the Israel-Gaza border and took Israeli hostages at a concert. Hamas is based in Gaza, which is where the war began after Israel retaliated to the terror attack. Since then, the war in West Asia, popularly called the Middle-East, has led to large-scale destruction and death of tens of thousands of people in the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to the ceasefire and so has his security cabinet.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has however, warned that if Hezbollah breaks the deal, Israel will not honour it either and will strike back with full force. The peace deal has been achieved with the intervention of the United States and France, and US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron are expected to make an official announcement shortly.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been working closely with top Israeli officials to negotiate the ceasefire which comes into effect at midnight tonight.
Here are some of the key points from the Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire Agreement:
Hezbollah and all other armed militant groups in Lebanese territories will not carry out any offensive operations against Israel.
In return, Israel will not conduct any offensive military operations against targets in Lebanon, (land, air, or sea).
Israel and Lebanon acknowledge the importance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.
These commitments do not negate the right of either Israel or Lebanon to exercise their natural right to self-defense.
The official Lebanese security forces and army will be the only armed groups allowed to carry weapons or operate forces in southern Lebanon.
Any sale, supply, or production of weapons or related materials in Lebanon will be subject to oversight and control by the Lebanese government.
All unauthorised facilities involved in the production of weapons or related materials will be dismantled.
All unlicensed infrastructure and military sites will be dismantled, and all weapons not compliant with these commitments will be confiscated.
A committee acceptable to both parties, Israel and Lebanon, will be formed to supervise and assist in ensuring the implementation of these commitments.
Israel and Lebanon will report any potential breaches of these commitments to the committee and to UNIFIL.
Lebanon will deploy its official security forces and army along all borders, crossing points, and the line delineating the southern region as outlined in the deployment plan.
Israel will gradually withdraw from south of the Blue Line within a period of up to 60 days.
The United States will facilitate indirect negotiations between Israel and Lebanon to reach an agreement on recognized land borders.