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The Israeli cabinet has scheduled an urgent meeting to deliberate on the approval of a ceasefire. This initiative seeks to ease hostilities with Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia whose actions have intensified the conflict, adding to the region’s precarious security situation.
The truce, as reported by media outlets, is set to last for 60 days, during which Israeli forces would retreat from Lebanese territory. This arrangement highlights an attempt to reduce the intensity of the conflict while laying the groundwork for further negotiations.
As part of the arrangement, Hezbollah would relinquish its hold south of the Litani River, situated about 30 kilometers (18 miles) north of the international boundary. The Lebanese Army would deploy to this region, a measure designed to reinforce peace efforts and ensure a stronger state presence.
Despite diplomatic indications on Monday that a deal was nearing completion, intense clashes persisted. Lebanese officials reported at least 31 fatalities from Israeli airstrikes, while Hezbollah retaliated with heavy rocket barrages targeting Israel, keeping tensions dangerously high.
The ministers are likely to vote on the deal during a Tuesday meeting, according to Haaretz. A senior Israeli official, as cited by Reuters, stated that the session would primarily focus on finalizing and approving the agreement’s detailed wording.
The news agency also reported four senior Lebanese sources as saying the US and France – a long-term ally of Lebanon – were expected to announce a ceasefire imminently.
The proposed agreement calls for a bilateral ceasefire, with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stationed in Lebanon for a transitional period of up to 60 days.
During this time, the Lebanese Army would deploy to replace the IDF as it gradually withdraws. Notably, the plan excludes the establishment of an Israeli-controlled buffer zone in southern Lebanon.
Oversight of the ceasefire’s implementation would be managed by a US-led committee comprising representatives from five nations.
Responsibility for arms procurement and production would be centralized under the Lebanese government.
Additionally, the US is expected to formalize Israel’s right to respond militarily against Lebanon if Hezbollah is deemed to have breached the agreement.
Read also: We Hit Over 200 Targets In Lebanon In 36 Hours – Israeli Army
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to have agreed to the deal “in principle”. The Lebanese deputy speaker of parliament, Elias Bou Saab, told Reuters that there were now “no serious obstacles” to a ceasefire “unless Netanyahu changes his mind”.
The French presidency said on Monday evening negotiations had “significantly advanced” and urged Israel and Hezbollah to “quickly seize this opportunity”.
“We believe we’ve reached this point where we’re close,” US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. But he added: “We’re not there yet.”
But Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, spoke out against a ceasefire.
He said Israel should press on with the war until “absolute victory”, and, addressing Netanyahu on X, said: “It is not too late to stop this agreement!”
Lebanese authorities have said any ceasefire deal should be limited to the terms of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel.
According to the resolution, Hezbollah’s military presence, including personnel and arms, must be withdrawn from the area stretching from the Blue Line—the unofficial border between Lebanon and Israel—to the Litani River, which lies around 30 kilometers (18 miles) away from Israel’s boundary.
Israel contends that the terms of the agreement were never fully upheld, while Lebanon argues that Israeli violations, such as military overflights into Lebanese airspace, undermined the accord.
