Ceasefire Challenges Between Israel and Hezbollah: Key Sticking Points

Ceasefire Challenges Between Israel and Hezbollah: Key Sticking Points


International

-Sathish Raman

Google Oneindia News

The
ongoing
conflict
between
Israel
and
Hezbollah
has
seen
numerous
hurdles
in
ceasefire
discussions,
despite
favourable
conditions
for
an
agreement.
Israel’s
military
has
targeted
most
of
Hezbollah’s
senior
leaders,
yet
missile
attacks
on
Israel
persist.
Many
Israelis
displaced
from
the
border
are
urging
their
government
to
facilitate
their
return.
Globally,
there
is
a
desire
to
prevent
the
conflict
from
escalating
further
after
over
a
year
of
hostilities.

Israel
and
Hezbollah
have
been
exchanging
fire
almost
daily
since
October
8,
2023,
following
an
attack
by
Hamas-led
militants
on
Israel.
This
triggered
the
war
in
Gaza.
Israel
initiated
a
large-scale
bombardment
of
Lebanon
two
months
ago,
followed
by
a
ground
invasion.
Over
3,500
people
have
died
in
Lebanon,
mostly
civilians,
while
more
than
70
have
died
in
Israel,
including
over
40
civilians
and
more
than
50
soldiers.

Ceasefire
Proposal
Details

A
proposed
ceasefire
aims
to
halt
fighting
between
Israel
and
Hezbollah
for
two
months.
During
this
period,
Israeli
forces
would
withdraw
from
Lebanon,
and
Hezbollah
would
cease
its
armed
presence
south
of
the
Litani
River.
The
Lebanese
army,
largely
inactive
during
the
war,
would
bolster
border
patrols
alongside
UN
peacekeepers.
An
international
committee
would
oversee
the
ceasefire
and
enforce
UN
Security
Council
Resolution
1701.

The
resolution
was
initially
passed
in
2006
to
end
a
month-long
war
between
Israel
and
Hezbollah
but
was
never
fully
implemented.
Hezbollah
maintained
its
presence
in
southern
Lebanon,
while
Lebanon
accused
Israel
of
airspace
violations
and
occupying
small
territories.
It’s
uncertain
if
a
new
agreement
would
be
more
successful
than
the
previous
one.

Points
of
Disagreement

Several
disputes
remain
unresolved
in
negotiations.
Israel
demands
assurances
that
Hezbollah’s
weapons
will
be
removed
from
border
areas.
Israeli
officials
insist
on
retaining
the
right
to
strike
in
Lebanon
if
they
suspect
Hezbollah
is
violating
any
agreement.
Lebanese
officials
argue
that
such
terms
infringe
on
Lebanon’s
sovereignty.

Hezbollah
leader
Naim
Kassem
stated
that
any
deal
must
ensure
a
“complete
and
comprehensive
end
to
the
aggression” while
safeguarding
Lebanon’s
sovereignty.
Disagreements
also
exist
over
which
countries
should
be
part
of
the
international
committee
overseeing
the
deal’s
implementation.

Israel
initially
opposed
France’s
involvement
due
to
recent
tensions
but
has
since
accepted
it
as
part
of
the
monitoring
committee.
However,
Lebanon
has
rejected
Britain’s
participation
due
to
its
close
ties
with
Israel.
It
remains
unclear
if
Lebanon
has
changed
its
stance
following
Israel’s
concession.

Regional
Implications

A
ceasefire
could
ease
regional
tensions
and
reduce
fears
of
direct
conflict
between
Israel
and
Iran,
given
Hezbollah’s
status
as
Iran’s
strongest
proxy.
However,
its
impact
on
the
ongoing
Israel-Hamas
war
in
Gaza
is
uncertain.
Previously,
Hezbollah
insisted
on
linking
any
ceasefire
to
the
end
of
the
Gaza
conflict
but
has
since
dropped
this
condition.

Diplomats
warn
that
without
a
ceasefire,
the
war
might
spread
further
into
Syria
and
Iraq
as
Israel
seeks
to
cut
off
Iranian
weapon
supplies
to
Hezbollah.
Israel
frequently
targets
Iran-linked
groups
in
Syria
and
has
threatened
strikes
in
Iraq
against
Iran-backed
militias
launching
drone
attacks
on
Israel.

UN
special
envoy
for
Syria
Geir
Pedersen
emphasised
during
a
Damascus
visit
that
ceasefires
in
Gaza
and
Lebanon
are
crucial
to
prevent
Syria
from
being
further
drawn
into
the
conflict.

Current
Situation

Despite
being
weakened,
Hezbollah
continues
to
launch
attacks
into
Israel,
including
strikes
far
from
the
border.
On
Sunday,
it
fired
approximately
250
rockets
into
Israel,
injuring
seven
people
in
response
to
Israeli
strikes
in
Beirut.
Clashes
persist
in
southern
Lebanon
as
Israeli
forces
attempt
to
seize
strategic
towns.

Israel
aims
to
enable
displaced
Israelis
to
return
home
safely
through
its
military
actions
against
Hezbollah.
In
Lebanon,
where
a
quarter
of
the
population
is
displaced
and
significant
destruction
has
occurred,
particularly
in
southern
regions
and
areas
south
of
Beirut,
there
is
eagerness
for
peace.

Initially
optimistic
about
a
resolution
after
US
mediator
Amos
Hochstein’s
visit
last
week,
many
now
doubt
an
agreement
will
be
reached
before
President-elect
Donald
Trump
assumes
office
in
January.



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