After more than 14 months of intense conflict, President Joe Biden announced that a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah will take effect at 4:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday.

This significant step followed an agreement brokered by the United States and France, with both sides agreeing to halt hostilities.

In a statement from the White House Rose Garden, Biden expressed his approval of the deal, calling it a crucial moment to “end the violence.”

The U.S. president, who had been in contact with the leaders of both Israel and Lebanon, confirmed that their governments had accepted the ceasefire terms.

He described the move as a much-needed pause in a devastating conflict.

Details of the Ceasefire Agreement

The ceasefire agreement, which was orchestrated by U.S. and French diplomats, marks the beginning of a 60-day process where both Israel and Hezbollah will cease fighting and pull back from southern Lebanon.

Biden emphasized that this ceasefire is intended to be a permanent end to hostilities, with measures in place to prevent Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations from rebuilding their presence in the region.

Over the next two months, Lebanon’s army and state security forces will take control of the area as Israel gradually withdraws its forces and civilians.

Despite the ceasefire agreement, Israel had carried out several airstrikes on southern Beirut up until the last moments before the ceasefire took effect, with reports of casualties from the attacks.

Biden’s Focus on Gaza and Hostage Situations

In his remarks, Biden also addressed the ongoing situation in Gaza, drawing parallels between the ceasefire in Lebanon and the broader need for peace in the region.

He urged Hamas to make the right choice, emphasizing that the release of hostages, including American citizens, would be a critical step in bringing an end to the violence and allowing for much-needed humanitarian relief to flow into Gaza.

The U.S. president confirmed that his administration, in collaboration with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Israel, and others, would continue efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza.

He stressed that the release of hostages and the removal of Hamas from power would be key to achieving peace and stability in the area.

A Win for Biden’s Middle East Policy

The ceasefire in Lebanon marks a diplomatic success for the Biden administration, which has been working to stabilize the Middle East before the president’s term ends in January.

Shortly before leaving for Nantucket to spend Thanksgiving with his family, Biden announced the agreement, calling it a significant achievement for both U.S. foreign policy and regional security.

Meanwhile, Israel’s security cabinet had already approved the ceasefire deal, though it does not directly impact the ongoing war in Gaza.

The ceasefire deal, according to Israeli officials, requires Hezbollah to end its armed presence in southern Lebanon, while Israeli forces will return to their side of the border.

However, Israel retains full military freedom to act if Hezbollah violates the agreement.

Israel’s Conditions and Netanyahu’s Remarks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outlined several reasons for agreeing to the ceasefire.

First, it would allow Israel to focus more on countering Iran, rebuild its military stockpiles, and isolate Hamas in Gaza.

While Netanyahu acknowledged the potential for a temporary cessation of hostilities in Lebanon, he also emphasized that Israel would not hesitate to act if Hezbollah violated the agreement.

Despite this progress in Lebanon, the ceasefire does not guarantee an end to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where Hezbollah had previously insisted that no ceasefire would be possible until the situation there was resolved.

As both sides await the implementation of the ceasefire, the next steps in the broader Middle Eastern conflict remain uncertain.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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