Israel is warning thousands of people returning to their homes in southern Lebanon not to break freshly imposed curfew conditions following the ceasefire deal.
Prime minister Keir Starmer has renewed a push for a ceasefire in Gaza after an agreement struck between Israel and Hezbollah raised hopes for peace in the wider region.
“We must seize this opportunity to build trust, de-escalate tensions and push for a wider ceasefire,” Sir Keir said just after midday during PMQs.
Waves of people are returning to their homes in southern Lebanon despite warnings from Israeli and Lebanese military to hold off after the breakthrough agreement.
“This is a moment of victory, pride and honor for us, the Shia sect, and for all of Lebanon,” said Hussein Sweidan, a resident returning to the southern city of Tyre, one of the areas bombed by Israel on Tuesday.
But the mood was different in Israel, where many people believe the ceasefire is not strong enough and are hesitant to return to communities in the country’s north.
The Hamas group says it is ready to reach a ceasefire in Gaza with Israel after the truce between Benjamin Netanyahu and the Iran-backed militant group began early on Wednesday.
Key Points
- Hamas ‘ready’ for a ceasefire with Israel in Gaza
- Ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah begins
- Israel says it will ‘attack with might’ if Hezbollah breaks truce
- US envoy says ceasefire ‘permanent’ and Israeli forces will leave in 60 days
- Iran welcomes ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon
- Waves of Lebanese return home despite warnings
France says it will work with Netanyahu despite arrest warrant
16:50
AP
France said it “intends to continue to work in close collaboration” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu despite an arrest warrant being issued for him by the world’s top war crimes court.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued warrants last week for Mr Netanyahu, his former defence minister and Hamas’ military chief, accusing them of crimes against humanity in connection with the 13-month war in Gaza.
Since then, French officials have replied vaguely to questions about whether France would arrest Mr Netanyahu should he visit the country.
The French Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, told parliament this week that France would “rigorously” respect its obligations under international law, a position echoed again by France’s Foreign Minister in a broadcast interview.
But in a subsequent written statement, the French Foreign Ministry argued that Mr Netanyahu and others affected benefit from immunity because Israel is not a member of the court. It said this would be “taken into consideration if the ICC was to ask us for their arrest and handing over”.
The statement cited “the historic friendship that links France and Israel” and described them as “two democracies committed to the rule of law and respect for professional and independent justice”.
It added: “France intends to continue to work in close collaboration with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other Israeli authorities to achieve peace and security for all in the Middle East.”
The ceasefire in pictures
16:30
Angus Thompson
IDF chief of staff warns Hezbollah approaching Israeli soldiers will be ‘targeted'
16:10
Angus Thompson
IDF army chief of staff, general Herzi Halevi has issued a statement saying enforcing the agreement with Hezbollah will be more decisive than the fighting that preceded it.
The top commander warned Hezbollah members who approach IDF soldiers in southern Lebanon will be targeted.
“We do not intend to wage months of war and remove residents from their homes without now returning them safely,” he said in a statement posted online, adding forces from the northern command would be the first to confront people who returned to forbidden areas.
“There are units in the air around the clock, and naval units that gather information and are also capable of attacking in the western sector.”
The general said the IDF was “very determined to enforce the rules” under the new arrangement in Lebanon’s south.
Israel-Lebanon ceasefire explained: What is deal struck between Hezbollah and Israel – and will it hold?
15:50
Angus Thompson
In the early hours of Wednesday morning a breakthrough ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect after 13 months of almost daily fire exchanged across the Israeli-Lebanon border and weeks of a intense ground and airstrike operation.
While residents of Beirut and southern Lebanon celebrated, returning to their neighbourhoods in droves hours after intense Israeli bombardments – despite warnings from the Israeli military to stay clear – the mood was different in Israel, with some northern communities fearful of going home and believing the deal didn’t go far enough.
Now the IDF is warning residents in southern Lebanon against moving towards their positions, with a spokesman saying, “our forces will deal with any movement that violates this agreement firmly.”
So, what is the deal that has ended the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, and will it hold? Read this useful explainer here
Israeli forces impose curfew on residents in southern Lebanon
15:29
Angus Thompson
Israel is placing residents in southern Lebanon under a strict curfew, warning them they forbidden from moving south from the Litani River overnight.
In an “urgent” notification posted on social media platform X, IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee said Lebanese people were barred from moving south towards villages the Israeli military had asked to be evacuated, or towards Israeli forces in the area.
#عاجل بيان عاجل إلى سكان #جنوب_لبنان:
— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) November 27, 2024
⭕️من أجل سلامتكم وأمن عائلتكم يحظر عليكم الانتقال جنوبًا نحو القرى التي طالب جيش الدفاع بإخلائها أو نحو قوات جيش الدفاع في المنطقة. كل تحرك نحو هذه المناطق يعرضكم للخطر.
⭕️نخبركم انه ابتداء من الساعة الخامسة مساء (17:00) وحتى صباح غد في… pic.twitter.com/XFEK9vb8uL
“Any movement towards these areas exposes you to danger,” he said, adding that between 5pm today and 7pm tomorrow, local time, it was “absolutely prohibited to move south from the Litani River.”
“Those who are north of the Litani River - are prohibited from moving south,” he said.
“Those who are south of the Litani River - must remain in their places. We remind you that the IDF is still deployed in its positions in southern Lebanon according to the terms of the ceasefire agreement, and our forces will deal with any movement that violates this agreement firmly.”
UN Resolution 1701 is at the heart of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal. What is it?
14:55
Kareem Chehayeb
In 2006, after a bruising monthlong war between Israel and Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah militant group, the United Nations Security Council unanimously voted for a resolution to end the conflict and pave the way for lasting security along the border.
But while there was relative calm for nearly two decades, Resolution 1701’s terms were never fully enforced.
Now, figuring out how to finally enforce it is key to a US-brokered ceasefire deal approved by Israel on Tuesday.
Almost two decades after the last war between Israel and Hezbollah, the United States led shuttle diplomacy efforts between Lebanon and Israel to agree on a ceasefire proposal that renewed commitment to the resolution, this time with an implementation plan to try to bring the document back to life.
What is UNSC Resolution 1701?
What does the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire mean for Gaza?
14:25
Mark Almond
Wednesday morning in south Beirut started as daybreak has for much of the last two months – with explosions and gunfire. This time, however, it was peace breaking out that was being marked by the volleys.
As has happened so many times before, Hezbollah’s supporters wanted to celebrate fighting Israel to a standstill, regardless of the cost.
Cynics are probably not wrong to say that this ceasefire will only be temporary. However, it could endure for a long time if it suits the calculations of the power brokers on either side – and their foreign backers.
This ceasefire will likely hold, for now. But it is hardly likely to be a harbinger of a wider peace.
Read Mark Almond’s full analysis here
Biden says deal brings Middle East closer to peace
13:50
Angus Thompson
US president Joe Biden took to X a short time ago to say the breakthrough deal with Israel and Hezbollah brought the region closer to lasting peace.
“Yesterday’s ceasefire brings us closer to realising a future I’ve been pushing for my entire presidency where the Middle East is at peace, prosperous, and integrated across borders,” he said.
The deal was brokered by Biden who called it a “historic” moment for the world. Despite this, Trump’s incoming national security adviser, Mike Waltz, was quick to credit the president-elect for the deal.
“Everyone is coming to the table because of President Trump,” Waltz wrote in a post on X. “His resounding victory sent a clear message to the rest of the world that chaos won’t be tolerated. I’m glad to see concrete steps towards deescalation in the Middle East.”
Foreign secretary David Lammy touts UK pressure
12:54
Angus Thompson
Foreign secretary David Lammy has said the ceasefire offered hope to the Lebanese and Israeli civilians displaced from their homes by rocketfire over the past year.
He said the international community must seize the momentum towards lasting peace in the region, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
“The UK was the first G7 country to call for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Lebanese Hezballah in September and we have worked relentlessly since with our allies and partners to apply pressure to end this conflict since. We strongly urge all parties to use this agreement to open a pathway to a lasting peace,” he said in a statement issued late on Monday.
He assured the UK would support the UN in maintaining peace along the Blue Line demarcating Lebanon and Israel, adding Lebanese forces were the only legitimate military force in Lebanon.
“The devastation from this conflict is appalling and the human suffering must be addressed. The UK has played a leading role in addressing the humanitarian situation in Lebanon, announcing £15m in humanitarian support in autumn to provide essential medical supplies, emergency cash assistance, shelter and access to clean water. We will continue to play our part to support those in need,” he said.
Keir Starmer pushes for wider ceasefire
12:26
Kate Devlin
Prime minister Keir Starmer has addressed parliament for the first time since the ceasefire agreement.
“We must seize this opportunity to build trust, de-escalate tensions and push for a wider ceasefire,” he said just after midday during PMQs.
Soon after news of the agreement, representing a major breakthrough in ending hostilities in the Middle East, Sir Keir said it was “long overdue” and urged for it to be the start of “a long-term, sustainable peace in the Middle East”.
“We must see immediate progress towards a ceasefire deal in Gaza, the release of all hostages and the removal of restrictions on desperately needed humanitarian aid,” he said earlier.
Hezbollah aerial unit commander killed in Beirut, IDF claims
12:11
Angus Thompson
The IDF says it killed a Hezbollah commander who directed missile attacks against Israel during its intense bombardment of Beirut yesterday.
In a lengthy, published statement, the Israeli Defence Force said it had “eliminated” Jaafar Ali Samaha, who it said commanded “many aerial acts of terrorism, including the firing of cruise missiles” at Israel.
“In addition, he was responsible for coordinating the outlines between the various units in Hezbollah. Samaha’ served as the deputy commander of the unit (127) and was a senior member of it for over ten years,” the statement said.
It said its attack, part dozens of strikes against the Lebanese capital and southern areas, dismantled the chain of command of Hezbollah’s air unit.
UK Jewish leaders welcome ceasefire
11:39
Angus Thompson
The Board of Deputies of British Jews has issued a statement welcoming the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah and calling for peace in Gaza.
Board of Deputies president Phil Rosenberg said the UK organisation expressed its gratitude “to the USA, France, and others who helped facilitate the agreement.”
“We hope that in due course communities on both sides of the border will be able to return safely to their homes and livelihoods,” Mr Rosenberg said.
“We pray that this breakthrough leads quickly to a wider cessation of hostilities in the region, including in Gaza, with the release of the hostages, aid and relief to Gazan civilians, and moves towards lasting peace and security between Israel, the Palestinians and the wider region”.
Israel firing at ‘suspects’ in southern Lebanon
11:14
Angus Thompson
Israeli forces in southern Lebanon have been firing at “suspects” across a number of areas, with the defence force asserting on social media it will enforce any violation of the ceasefire.
“In recent hours, IDF forces have been firing at suspects identified in a number of areas in southern Lebanon,” the IDF posted on X.
The military earlier said it had established positions in southern Lebanon, where it also fired warning shots at people entering currently restricted areas.
“The forces fired to prevent their arrival in the area, and the suspects moved away,” the IDF said.
בהנחיית הדרג המדיני, הבוקר בשעה 04:00 נכנס לתוקפו הסכם הפסקת האש בלבנון וצה״ל פועל בהתאם. כוחות צה״ל ערוכים בעמדותיהם בדרום לבנון.
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) November 27, 2024
בשעה האחרונה כוחות צה״ל זיהו מספר רכבים בשטח לבנון עם חשודים במרחב אסור לתנועה. הכוחות ירו על מנת למנוע את הגעתם למרחב, והחשודים התרחקו>>
Tories cautiously welcome ceasefire
10:30
Kate Devlin
UK’s shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel says the opposition “cautiously” welcomes the US-brokered ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah “while recognising there is a long road ahead.”
The Conservatives’ reaction to the major breakthrough in the Middle East comes after prime minister Keir Starmer said it was “long overdue” and urged for it to be the start of “a long-term, sustainable peace in the Middle East”.
Ms Patel said that Hezbollah moving back behind the Litani River, in Lebanon’s south, and Isreal having the ability to deal with immediate threats from Hezbollah is “clearly key.”
“We have consistently called for implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, and the broad outline of this deal appears a step in the right direction,” she said.
“A huge international effort will be needed if this agreement is to endure. If it works, it could bring long awaited relief for many and potentially a pathway to sustainable peace across the Blue Line.
She said the key to ending the Gaza conflict was the release of Israeli hostages.
“Hamas should release all remaining hostages immediately and unconditionally,” she said.
Trump team claims credit for Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire
10:02
Rhian Lubin
Donald Trump’s team has tried to claim credit for the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire hours after President Joe Biden announced it from the White House.
The Biden administration reportedly briefed the president-elect’s national security team to inform them of the agreement and the commitments made, but Trump officials were not directly involved in the negotiations, according to a senior Biden administration official.
The deal, which marks a major breakthrough in the devastating conflict that has gripped the Middle East, was actually brokered by Biden who called it a “historic” moment for the world.
Despite this, Trump’s incoming national security adviser, Mike Waltz, was quick to credit the president-elect for the deal.
“Everyone is coming to the table because of President Trump,” Waltz wrote in a post on X. “His resounding victory sent a clear message to the rest of the world that chaos won’t be tolerated. I’m glad to see concrete steps towards deescalation in the Middle East.”
Celebratory gunshots in Beirut after Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire brokered
09:24
Holly Patrick
Gunshots were heard in Beirut, Lebanon, in the early hours of Wednesday (27 November) in an apparent celebration at the start of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Footage showed smoke rising from the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes fired before the ceasefire took hold at 4am local time on Wednesday.
US president Joe Biden, who brokered the deal and spoke to Israel and Lebanon’s leaders shortly after it was announced, said the ceasefire was designed to be permanent.
Lebanese celebrations in pictures
08:56
Angus Thompson
Droves of people are returning to their homes in Lebanon, with the streets filled with traffic and residents of bombed out areas celebrating, and waving flags. Here are the images from the ground following the breakthrough ceasefire.
Celebrations in Lebanon, while many Israelis subdued
08:25
AP
Sporadic gunfire was heard at a main roundabout in the Lebanese southern coastal city of Tyre, where Israeli jets had struck on Tuesday, as returning residents honked their car horns and others cheered.
“This is a moment of victory, pride and honor for us, the Shia sect, and for all of Lebanon,” said Hussein Sweidan, a resident returning to Tyre.
He said the ceasefire as a victory for Hezbollah.
But the mood was different in Israel, where many people believe the ceasefire is not strong enough.
“I think it is still not safe to return to our homes because Hezbollah is still close to us,” said Eliyahu Maman, an Israeli displaced from the northern Israeli city of Kyriat Shmona, which has been hit hard by the months of fighting.
Waves of Lebanese return home despite warnings
08:15
AP
Waves of Lebanese people have begun to return to their homes in the south of the country despite warnings from the Israeli military to hold off.
Israel’s Arabic military spokesperson Avichay Adraee warned displaced Lebanese not to return to their villages, while the The Lebanese military asked displaced people returning to southern Lebanon to avoid frontline villages and towns near the border, where Israeli troops are still present.
However, videos circulating on social media show Lebanese returning to villages in the south near the coastal city of Tyre, one of the areas bombarded by Israeli jets on Tuesday.
Thousands of people have already begun driving south on the highway linking Beirut to southern Lebanon, with their belongings and mattresses tied on top of their cars.
Traffic was gridlocked at the northern entrance of the port city of Sidon.
Israeli strikes have left Lebanon with £6.7bn in damages
08:00
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Israel’s strikes on Lebanon targeting Hezbollah have left the country with damages worth an estimated £6.7bn, according to the Associated Press.
At least 100,000 homes have been destroyed in Lebanon, while in Israel around 5,683 acres of land have burned.
Israel’s attacks have killed more than 3,800 people in Lebanon and forced 1.2 million to flee their homes, the country’s health ministry said.
Hezbollah’s missile strikes have killed more than 80 Israeli soldiers and 47 civilians in Israel.
Gunfire heard across Beirut as ceasefire takes effect
07:30
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Bursts of gunfire could be heard across Beirut after the ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah took effect this morning.
It was not immediately clear if the shooting was celebratory, as gunfire had also been used to alert residents who may have missed evacuation warnings issued by Israel’s military.
Streams of cars began heading to southern Lebanon, which borders Israel, after the ceasefire, Reuters reported.
The ceasefire promises to end a conflict across the Israeli-Lebanese border that has killed thousands of people since it was ignited by the Gaza war last year.
In pics: Lebanese citizens reclaim streets as ceasefire takes effect
07:00
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Hamas ‘ready’ for a ceasefire with Israel in Gaza
06:50
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The Hamas group says it is ready to reach a ceasefire in Gaza with Israel following a truce between Benjamin Netanyahu and the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“We have informed mediators in Egypt, Qatar and Turkey that Hamas is ready for a ceasefire agreement and a serious deal to exchange prisoners,” a senior official of Hamas told AFP.
US president Joe Biden on Tuesday said over the coming days Washington will “make another push with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and others to achieve a cease-fire in Gaza – with the hostages released and the end of the war without Hamas in power”.
Xi Jinping urges Gaza ceasefire
06:30
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Chinese president Xi Jinping has reportedly called for a ceasefire in Gaza during his visit to the Brazilian capital.
Mr Xi expressed concerns about the spread of the conflict in Gaza, and “called for a ceasefire and an end to the war at an early date,” according to state-run Xinhua news agency.
Lebanese army preparing to deploy south
06:23
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Lebanon’s army this morning said it is preparing to deploy to the south of the country, after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect.
The army also asked residents of border villages to delay returning home until the Israeli military withdraws.
Netanyahu’s arrest warrant will throw the very future of the ICC into question
06:00
Alexander Butler
Iran welcomes ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon
05:30
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Iran welcomes the ceasefire in Lebanon, the country’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said in a statement this morning, shortly after the ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed group Hezbollah took effect.
The ceasefire calls for an initial 60-day halt to fighting and requires Iran-backed Hezbollah to end its armed presence in southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops are to return to their side of the border.
Thousands of additional Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the US would monitor compliance, according to reports.
What to know about ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah
05:00
Alexander Butler
US envoy says ceasefire ‘permanent’ and Israeli forces will leave Lebanon in 60 days
04:30
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
US envoy Amos Hochstein told Al Jazeera that the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon was “permanent”.
He said the Israeli military on the ground in the first two-three km from the border will remain in place and the Lebanese army will redeploy back down to the south.
The first Israeli forces “will leave over the next several days, or first couple of weeks, and gradually, over 60 days, they will all depart,” he said.
“But there is a lot to do in these 60 days. The Lebanese army cannot deploy that many forces that quickly all across the south when they haven’t been there in such a long time.”
UK’s Starmer says Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal will bring relief to civilians
04:00
Alexander Butler
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah will provide some measure of relief to civilian populations in Lebanon and Northern Israel and urged progress towards a ceasefire in Gaza.
Earlier, US President Joe Biden said a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah will take effect on Wednesday after both sides accepted an agreement brokered by the United States and France.
Biden, who gave remarks at the White House shortly after Israel’s security cabinet approved the agreement in a 10-1 vote, said he had spoken to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati. Fighting across the Israel-Lebanon border would end at 4 a.m. local time (2am GMT).
“We must see immediate progress towards a ceasefire deal in Gaza, the release of all hostages and the removal of restrictions on desperately needed humanitarian aid,” Starmer said in a post on X.
Foreign Minister David Lammy said the ceasefire must be a turning point that builds momentum towards a lasting peace in the Middle East.
Israel says it will ‘attack with might’ if Hezbollah breaks ceasefire agreement
03:30
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Israel will respond ‘with might’ if the Iran-backed group violates the ceasefire.
“If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack,” Mr Netanyahu said.
“For every violation, we will attack with might.”
His office said Israel appreciated the US efforts in securing the deal but “reserves the right to act against every threat to its security”.
Ceasefire deal approved by Israel’s security cabinet
03:00
Alexander Butler
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet has approved a ceasefire deal with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, clearing the way for the truce to take effect.
The late-night vote came shortly before President Joe Biden was expected to announce details of the deal in Washington. Biden called the ceasefire in Lebanon “good news,” but it’s not clear how the truce will affect the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
In the hours before Israel agreed to the ceasefire, residents of Beirut endured the most intense wave of Israeli strikes on the capital and its southern suburbs since the start of the 13-month war.
Israel was apparently signaling it intended to pummel the country before any ceasefire takes hold. Hezbollah also fired rockets into Israel, triggering air raid sirens across the country’s north.
Israel asks evacuated residents of Lebanon not to return yet
02:59
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Israel has warned residents evacuated from southern Lebanon not to head home yet due to the ongoing military deployment in the region.
Residents were warned in the first half-hour of the ceasefire, which began a short while ago at 4am (local time) today, a day after Israel carried out its most intense wave of airstrikes in Beirut.
There appeared to be lingering disagreement over whether Israel would have the right to strike Hezbollah if it believed the militants had violated the agreement, which Israel insisted was part of the deal but Lebanese and Hezbollah officials have rejected.
Ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah begins
02:52
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militants began early this morning as a region on edge wondered whether it would hold.The ceasefire announced Tuesday is a major step toward ending nearly 14 months of fighting sparked by the ongoing war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.
Watch: Biden calls for peace in Gaza after Lebanon ceasefire announced
02:00
Alexander Butler
Israeli strikes hit north Lebanon crossings with Syria for first time, minister says
01:00
Alexander Butler
Israeli strikes late on Tuesday targeted Lebanon’s three northern border crossings with Syria for the first time, Lebanon’s transport minister Ali Hamieh told Reuters.
The strikes came moments after US President Joe Biden announced that a ceasefire would come into effect at 4am local time (2am GMT) on Wednesday to halt hostilities between Lebanese armed group Hezbollah and Israel.
Hamieh said it was not immediately clear whether the roads had been cut off as a result of the strikes. Israeli raids on Lebanon’s eastern crossings in recent weeks had already sealed off those routes into Syria.
Syrian state media Sana had said Israeli strikes targeted the northern crossings between Syria and Lebanon but it was not immediately clear what side of the border was hit.
Syrian state TV reported that 10 people were injured, including three critically, in an Israeli strike on the Arida border crossing, with the wounded transported to nearby hospitals, while casualties were also reported in a separate Israeli strike on the Dabousieh border crossing with Lebanon.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment but has previously stated that it targets what it says are Iran-linked sites in Syria as part of a broader campaign to curb the influence of Iran and its ally Hezbollah in the region.
What to know about ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah
00:01
Alexander Butler
Read the full story: Israel approves ceasefire deal with Hezbollah
Tuesday 26 November 2024 23:00
Alexander Butler
Biden to push for Gaza ceasefire after Israel-Lebanon deal
Tuesday 26 November 2024 21:56
Alexander Butler
US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday his administration was pushing for an elusive ceasefire in Gaza and that it is possible that Saudi Arabia and Israel could normalize relations.
The US “will make another push, with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and others, to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza,” he said.
Biden also wants the hostages released and to end the war without Hamas in power. Biden made the comments as he announced an Israel-Lebanon ceasefire at the White House.
He added the US “remained prepared to conclude a set of historic deals with Saudi Arabia, to include a security pact and economic assurances, together with a credible pathway for establishing a Palestinian state and the full normalisation of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.”
Biden says Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire will take effect Wednesday morning
Tuesday 26 November 2024 21:40
Alexander Butler
A ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah will take effect on Wednesday after both sides accepted an agreement brokered by the United States and France, US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday.
The accord, clearing the way for an end to a conflict that has killed thousands of people since it was ignited by the Gaza war last year, was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities, Biden said in remarks at the White House.
Fighting across the Israel-Lebanon border will end at 4am local time (2am GMT), Biden said.
“This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities,” he said. “What is left of Hezbollah and other terrorist organisations will not be allowed to threaten the security of Israel again.
Israel will gradually withdraw its forces over a period of 60 days as Lebanon’s army takes control of territory near its border with Israel to ensure that Hezbollah does not rebuild its infrastructure there, Biden said.
“Civilians on both sides will soon be able to safely return to their communities,” he said.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib earlier said the Lebanese army would be ready to have at least 5,000 troops deployed in southern Lebanon as Israeli troops withdraw.
Watch: Biden Calls For Peace In Gaza After Lebanon Ceasefire Announced
Tuesday 26 November 2024 21:24
Alexander Butler
Ceasefire deal approved by Israel’s security cabinet
Tuesday 26 November 2024 21:01
Alex Ross
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet has approved a ceasefire deal with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, clearing the way for the truce to take effect.
The late-night vote came shortly before President Joe Biden was expected to announce details of the deal in Washington. Biden called the ceasefire in Lebanon “good news,” but it’s not clear how the truce will affect the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
In the hours before Israel agreed to the ceasefire, residents of Beirut endured the most intense wave of Israeli strikes on the capital and its southern suburbs since the start of the 13-month war.
Israel was apparently signaling it intended to pummel the country before any ceasefire takes hold. Hezbollah also fired rockets into Israel, triggering air raid sirens across the country’s north.
Read the full story here
Tuesday 26 November 2024 20:30
Alexander Butler
Watch: Netanyahu backs US plan for ceasefire with Lebanon
Tuesday 26 November 2024 19:59
Alexander Butler
Israeli security minister rejects ceasefire proposal
Tuesday 26 November 2024 19:55
Alexander Butler
Israel’s far-right security minister has rejected the US ceasefire plan backed by Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday evening.
Itamar Ben-Gvir branded the ceasefire plan a “historical mistake” and said Israel needed a security belt north of the border.
‘This is not a ceasefire. It’s a return to the concept of silence for silence, and we’ve already seen where it leads,” he said.
“In order to leave Lebanon, we must have our own security belt. We have already seen it, that we must not trust anyone but ourselves.
“Otherwise, the missiles will be launched at Manara, A