Israel-Lebanon latest: Hamas ‘ready’ for own truce as Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire begins
Israel warns evacuated residents of Lebanon to not head home yet
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Your support makes all the difference.The Hamas group says it is ready to reach a ceasefire in Gaza with Israel after a truce between Benjamin Netanyahu and the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon began on Wednesday.
“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 Washington will push for a ceasefire in Gaza in the coming days and secure the release of hostages.
The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon began a day after Israel carried out its most intense wave of airstrikes in Beirut since the start of the conflict, killing at least 42 people across the country.
There were no immediate reports of alleged violations of the truce, which began at 4am (local time) and there were signs of celebration in Beirut.
However, Israel has warned residents evacuated from southern Lebanon not to head home yet due to the ongoing military deployment in the region.
The ceasefire comes after more than a year of near-daily rocket fire, ferocious airstrikes and on-the-ground skirmishes between Israeli forces and the militant group across Lebanon.
Gunfire heard across Beirut as ceasefire takes effect
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.
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Hamas ‘ready’ for a ceasefire with Israel in Gaza
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
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
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.
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Iran welcomes ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon
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
US envoy says ceasefire ‘permanent’ and Israeli forces will leave Lebanon in 60 days
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
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.
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