US President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday that the agreement would come into force from 03.00 am to Wednesday, Norwegian time. The agreement formally applies between Israel and Lebanon. – Israel and Lebanon have accepted a ceasefire agreement, Biden said on Tuesday. Shortly after the ceasefire came into effect, several displaced people from southern Lebanon left in their cars heading south, writes the Reuters news agency. Israel has warned displaced residents not to return to their homes in southern Lebanon. – It is prohibited to travel to the villages that the Israeli military (IDF) has ordered evacuated, writes the military’s spokesperson on X. Photo: Aziz Taher / Reuters / NTB Attacks if the agreement is broken In recent days, there have been several signals that an agreement on a truce could be approaching. After several Israeli rocket attacks against the Lebanese capital Beirut during the day, Israel made the announcement in a video broadcast speech on Tuesday evening. In the speech, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that he was ready to enter into an agreement with the Hezbollah militia. – We will send all citizens of northern Israel back to their homes, Netanyahu said. At the same time, the Prime Minister added: – How long the ceasefire lasts depends on what happens in Lebanon. The United States agrees that we retain full military freedom of action, Netanyahu said. – If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to arm itself, we will attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the agreement on Tuesday evening. Photo: Israeli Government Press Office / AP The US and France are said to have had leading roles in drawing up the agreement. Just under an hour before Netanyahu spoke on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said efforts to secure a ceasefire agreement were in the “final stages”. – I hope and believe that we can get it over the finish line, said Blinken. In Lebanon, over three thousand people have been killed and at least 15,000 wounded since October 2023, according to the Lebanese authorities. In addition, 1.2 million people have been displaced, according to the authorities. Joe Biden has just commented on the ceasefire agreement. Photo: Nathan Howard / Reuters Draft: 60-day transition period The details of the final text of the agreement between Israel and Hezbollah are still not known. But according to previous drafts of a cease-fire agreement, there should be a transition period of 60 days, during which Israeli forces must withdraw from southern Lebanon. At the same time, the Hezbollah militia will move to withdraw from the border with Israel, and move its forces north of the Litani River in Lebanon. Here runs the Litani River in Lebanon. There is an important line on the map in the discussions between Israel and Hezbollah regarding what will happen on the ground in Lebanon. Between the Litani River and the border with Israel, only UN forces and the Lebanese army are allowed to patrol. Around 5,000 Lebanese soldiers will take over when Israeli troops withdraw. It will ensure that Israelis who have been evacuated from areas in the north of Israel will be able to move back. Possible Ceasefire Agreement According to Israel’s Channel 12, the possible agreement could include: A mutual ceasefire Presence of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) in Lebanon for up to 60 days Lebanese army forces replace the IDF as they withdraw No Israeli-occupied buffer zone in southern Lebanon The US leads a five-nation committee to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire The Lebanese government will oversee arms purchases and production in the country In addition, the United States will issue a letter recognizing Israel’s right to attack Lebanon if Hezbollah is deemed to have violated the agreement. Expert: First step towards a reduction Middle East researcher Dag Henrik Tuastad at the University of Oslo says the agreement may indicate a possible new course on Israel’s part. – This is the first step towards de-escalation in a very long time, says Tuastad to news. The expert has previously thought that Israel may expand its war, also against militia groups in Iraq – and prepare something against Iran. – The fact that there is now a provisional, temporary ceasefire, which could then become permanent in 60 days, is a sign of a possible new course. That they end the hostilities outside Gaza, says Tuastad. Dag Henrik Tuastad is a Middle East researcher at UiO. Photo: Håkon Benjaminsen / news Tuastad on Hezbollah: – Far from wiped out – We have set Hezbollah back several decades, Netanyahu claimed in his speech. Netanyahu said at the press conference that they are now turning their focus to Iran. Middle East researcher Tuastad believes Hezbollah is certainly not down for the count. – No, they are not. That was precisely what the capacity on Sunday showed, Tuastad says of the Hezbollah militia. On Sunday, Hezbollah fired around 250 rockets at Israel, reports the AP news agency. – On the contrary, they have shown an increasing degree of comeback. They are far from wiped out, says Tuastad. An Israeli attack on Beirut today. The attack happened just before the agreement became known. Photo: Hassan Ammar / AP – Surprisingly, Tuastad says there have previously been demands from Hezbollah that a cease-fire with Israel should also include a cease-fire for Gaza. – There is a change in what has been a premise for a ceasefire in the past. Namely that there should also be a ceasefire in Gaza. The expert says the agreement is a break with the previous line of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. He was killed in an Israeli attack earlier this year. – The fact that they are moving away from that today is startling, says Tuastad. Published 26.11.2024, at 19.09 Updated 27.11.2024, at 05.06
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Cease fire between Israel and Lebanon – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
