On the evening of Tuesday, November 26, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene a meeting of the military-political cabinet in Tel Aviv. Participants in the meeting are expected to approve a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. According to American media reports citing their sources, Netanyahu has generally supported the agreement. Earlier, the military informed Prime Minister Netanyahu that they had largely achieved their goals in Lebanon against the "Hezbollah" group, the media indicates.
What does the ceasefire agreement entail?
According to the proposed plan, during a transitional period, the IDF troops are to withdraw from Southern Lebanon. The area from the border with Israel to the Litani River will be occupied by the Lebanese army and UN peacekeeping forces (UNIFIL).
In turn, the "Hezbollah" group will relocate heavy weaponry to the north of the Litani River. Israel will retain the freedom to act in Lebanon if the agreement is violated. A multinational committee led by the United States is expected to monitor the implementation of the initiative.
In an interview with the Italian newspaper "Repubblica," Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib stated that a committee comprising Lebanese, Israelis, representatives of UN peacekeeping forces, Americans, and French would oversee compliance with the ceasefire. "There is no need for other representatives to be included," he added.
Members of "Hezbollah" have not yet commented on the potential truce. However, a senior Hamas official in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan, stated that the Palestinian group would support a ceasefire between "Hezbollah" and Israel, despite previous promises from "Hezbollah" to halt hostilities only if the war in Gaza stopped.
"Any announcement of a ceasefire is welcome. 'Hezbollah' has supported our people and has suffered significant casualties," Hamdan told the Lebanese channel Al-Mayadeen.
Concerns over the expected truce in northern Israel
Meanwhile, leaders of local councils in northern Israel express dissatisfaction regarding the anticipated truce between Israel and "Hezbollah," claiming that the safety of residents is not guaranteed.
"Do not submit to terrorism. Do not sign this disgraceful agreement. This is a sad agreement, a capitulation agreement of the Israeli government to 'Hezbollah,' a unit of Iran," stated Metula Mayor David Azulai to Channel 13. "The threat has not been eliminated. We will not agree to return to the reality of October 7 in the north," he said.
For security reasons, shortly after the Hamas attack on Israel, about 60,000 residents were evacuated from northern cities along the border with Lebanon.
"Arrows of the North" against "Hezbollah"
On September 23, Israel launched an offensive operation against "Hezbollah" formations. It was named "Arrows of the North." During the operation, the IDF conducts massive airstrikes on "Hezbollah" military targets in Lebanon. On the night of October 1, the Israeli army announced the start of a ground operation in border areas in southern Lebanon.
As noted by the IDF, the ultimate goal of the Israeli military's actions is to create conditions for the return of residents from northern Israel to their homes.
Escalation of the situation in the Middle East in autumn 2023
The situation in the Middle East sharply escalated on October 7, 2023, following the attack by Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip on Israel. At least 1,200 people were killed in the attack. Approximately 250 were taken hostage and moved to the Palestinian enclave. In response, Israel began strikes on Gaza and subsequently launched a ground operation in the sector against militants and Hamas.
Hamas was supported by the Lebanese group "Hezbollah." Since October 8, 2023, "Hezbollah" militants have been attacking Israeli settlements and military posts along the border almost daily and shelling the northern part of the Jewish state from Lebanon.