International
-Madhuri Adnal
In
a
significant
development,
Israel’s
security
cabinet,
led
by
Prime
Minister
Benjamin
Netanyahu,
has
endorsed
a
ceasefire
agreement
with
the
Iran-supported
Hezbollah
faction,
signaling
a
potential
conclusion
to
the
prolonged
conflict
in
Lebanon.
The
announcement
came
from
Netanyahu’s
office,
detailing
that
the
cabinet
vote
yielded
a
majority
in
favor
of
the
US-proposed
ceasefire
plan,
with
10
ministers
supporting
it
and
one
dissenting.
The
Israeli
government
expressed
gratitude
towards
the
United
States
for
its
pivotal
role
in
facilitating
this
agreement
while
reiterating
Israel’s
prerogative
to
defend
itself
against
any
threats
to
its
security.
The
ceasefire,
orchestrated
by
the
United
States
and
France,
became
effective
at
4
am
on
November
27.
It
aims
to
bring
an
end
to
hostilities
that
have
ravaged
Lebanon,
claiming
nearly
3,800
lives
over
the
past
year
and
injuring
around
16,000
people.
In
response
to
Israel’s
acceptance
of
the
ceasefire,
French
President
Emmanuel
Macron
and
US
President
Joe
Biden
issued
a
joint
declaration.
They
committed
to
collaborating
with
both
Israel
and
Lebanon
to
ensure
the
agreement’s
full
implementation
and
enforcement.
They
emphasized
their
determination
to
prevent
the
conflict
from
escalating
into
further
violence
and
pledged
support
towards
rebuilding
the
Lebanese
Armed
Forces
and
fostering
Lebanon’s
economic
growth.
Following
the
agreement,
President
Biden
elaborated
on
the
conditions,
stating
that
Israeli
forces
would
commence
a
phased
withdrawal
over
60
days.
This
move
would
allow
the
Lebanese
army
to
assume
control
of
territories
adjacent
to
the
Israeli
border,
preventing
Hezbollah
from
re-establishing
its
military
infrastructure
in
the
area.
Biden
underscored
the
intention
for
a
lasting
cessation
of
hostilities,
declaring
that
Hezbollah
and
other
terrorist
groups
would
no
longer
pose
a
threat
to
Israel’s
security.
The
terms
of
the
ceasefire
require
the
withdrawal
of
Israeli
troops
from
southern
Lebanon,
with
the
Lebanese
army
deploying
in
the
region
and
Hezbollah
ceasing
its
armed
activities
south
of
the
Litani
River.
Despite
the
ceasefire
and
its
potential
to
halt
the
conflict,
hostilities
persisted
on
Tuesday
as
Israel
intensified
its
military
operations
in
Beirut
and
other
Lebanese
locales,
resulting
in
18
casualties.
Hezbollah
continued
its
rocket
assaults
into
Israel,
underscoring
the
volatile
security
situation
in
the
Middle
East.
This
turmoil
was
exacerbated
over
the
past
year
following
a
massive
attack
by
Hamas
against
Israel,
leading
to
significant
loss
of
life
across
the
region,
including
the
deaths
of
approximately
1,200
Israelis
and
the
capture
of
more
than
200
hostages.
This
incident
ignited
a
broader
conflict
in
the
Middle
East,
claiming
over
43,000
lives.
As
part
of
the
ceasefire’s
conditions,
Lebanese
Foreign
Minister
Abdallah
Bou
Habib
indicated
that
the
Lebanese
army
is
set
to
deploy
at
least
5,000
troops
in
southern
Lebanon
following
the
Israeli
withdrawal.
The
United
States
is
expected
to
assist
in
reconstructing
infrastructure
damaged
by
Israeli
airstrikes.
This
agreement,
despite
the
ongoing
violence,
represents
a
diplomatic
milestone
in
efforts
to
restore
peace
and
stability
to
the
region.
Both
Biden
and
Netanyahu,
along
with
Lebanon’s
Prime
Minister
Najib
Mikati,
have
communicated
following
the
ceasefire
deal,
highlighting
the
international
community’s
commitment
to
resolving
the
crisis.
