Israeli Cabinet approves ceasefire agreement in Lebanon

CAIRO – 26 November 2024: The Israeli Cabinet has approved on Tuesday the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in televised statements that Israel is committed to returning all detainees in the Gaza Strip. Adding “that the war will not end until all its goals are achieved, including returning the residents of the north to their homes."

Netanyahu said that there is a need to undermine the capabilities of the Lebanese Hezbollah, which have expanded over decades. He stressed that “if the Lebanese Hezbollah decides to return to attacks, we will return to respond to it, and we will prevent any efforts by Hezbollah to arm itself in the future.”

According to Israeli Channel 13 the terms of the ceasefire agreement approved by the Israeli government included the following points:

- Israel will not take any offensive military action against targets in Lebanon.

- Israel and Lebanon recognize the importance of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

- These commitments do not negate the right of Israel or Lebanon to exercise their right to self-defense.

- The official security and military forces in Lebanon will be the only armed groups authorized to carry weapons or operate forces in southern Lebanon.

- Any sale, supply and production of weapons or weapons-related materials to Lebanon will be under the supervision and control of the Lebanese government.

- All unlicensed facilities involved in the production of weapons and weapons-related materials will be dismantled.

- All military infrastructure and sites will be dismantled, and all unlicensed weapons that do not meet these commitments will be confiscated.

- A committee acceptable to Israel and Lebanon will be formed, and will monitor and help ensure the implementation of the agreement terms.

- Israel and Lebanon will report to the committee and UNIFIL any potential violation of their commitments.

- Lebanon will deploy its official security forces and military forces along all borders, crossings, and the line defining the southern zone as set out in the deployment plan.

- Israel will gradually withdraw its forces south of the Blue Line over a period of up to 60 days.

- The United States will work to promote indirect negotiations between Israel and Lebanon to reach a recognized land border.