Monday, November 25, 2024

Israel and Lebanon ‘close to ceasefire deal’

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The hostilities began on 8 October last year, as Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in support of Hamas in Gaza.

Israel’s stated goal in its war against Hezbollah – which intensified in September – is to allow the return of about 60,000 residents who have been displaced from communities in northern Israel because of the group’s attacks.

It was then that it launched a major offensive against the militia, destroying much of its infrastructure and weapons, and killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah and other senior figures.

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.

The resolution includes the withdrawal of Hezbollah’s fighters and weapons in areas between the Blue Line – the unofficial frontier between Lebanon and Israel – and the Litani river, about 30km (20 miles) from the boundary with Israel.

Israel says that was never fully respected, while Lebanon says Israeli violations included military flights over Lebanese territory.

In Lebanon, more than 3,750 people have been killed and at least 15,600 injured since October 2023, according to Lebanese authorities, with more than one million forced from their homes.

Several people were injured and buildings damaged in Hezbollah’s Sunday attacks on northern and central Israel, some of them near Tel Aviv, Israel’s police said.

The attacks followed an Israeli air strike on central Beirut on Saturday, in which the Lebanese health ministry said 29 people were killed.

Hostilities continued on Monday, with Lebanon’s health ministry saying Israeli air strikes killed at least 12 people in the south.

Israel also carried out multiple attacks on Beirut’s southern suburbs, saying it was targeting buildings linked to Hezbollah.

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