Netanyahu Announces Ceasefire with Lebanon: "Will Focus on the Iran Threat"

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on the 26th (local time) his intention to establish a ceasefire with the Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah.

AP Yonhap News

According to the daily Guardian and others, Prime Minister Netanyahu said in an evening video address, "A ceasefire in Lebanon will allow us to focus on the threat from Iran."

He stated that now is an appropriate time to conclude a ceasefire agreement, evaluating that "the Israeli military has been newly reorganized and rearmed." He also emphasized that isolating the Palestinian militant group Hamas is another goal of the ceasefire agreement, saying, "Without Hezbollah, Hamas will be left alone."

Regarding the duration of the ceasefire, he said, "It depends on what happens in Lebanon." Netanyahu also warned that if Hezbollah violates the ceasefire agreement and launches attacks, Israel will respond more forcefully. He raised his voice, saying, "If Hezbollah tries to attack us, arms itself, or rebuilds infrastructure near the border, we will launch an attack."

Furthermore, he claimed, "Hezbollah is no longer what it used to be," asserting, "We have set Hezbollah back decades." He emphasized, "We have destroyed most of Hezbollah's rockets and missiles, killed thousands of terrorists, and destroyed underground and terrorist infrastructure near the border."

Netanyahu explained that the cabinet would give final approval to the outline of the ceasefire plan that evening. Israeli media reported that the security cabinet had approved the ceasefire plan.

However, detailed information such as when the ceasefire will take effect was not mentioned. Earlier, local Lebanese media reported that the ceasefire would begin on the morning of the 27th. If a final agreement is reached with the Lebanese authorities negotiating on behalf of Hezbollah, a ceasefire will be established about 13 months after Israel was ambushed by Hamas in October last year and hostilities with Hezbollah began. From the time the Israeli military launched the so-called "Arrow of the North" operation targeting Hezbollah and entered ground combat in Lebanon, it will be about two months.

The ceasefire plan proposed by the United States reportedly includes a 60-day temporary ceasefire during which Israeli forces will withdraw from southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah’s heavy weapons will be moved north of the Litani River in Lebanon, approximately 30 km away from the Israeli border. The plan also includes the activities of a U.S.-led monitoring committee to oversee the implementation and violations by both sides.

Netanyahu also made it clear that this ceasefire would not affect the war in the Gaza Strip. He said, "Our pressure on Hamas will intensify, and this will help us recover the hostages."

Shortly after, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged in a statement, "The international community must act swiftly to implement an immediate ceasefire." According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, since October last year, at least 3,823 people have died and 15,859 have been injured in Lebanon. Even before the ceasefire announcement, the Israeli military bombed about 180 Hezbollah targets in Beirut, the Lebanese capital, and southern border areas. This was also interpreted as a warning message to Hezbollah not to violate the agreement.

However, there is also opposition within Israel. Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s far-right Minister of National Security, criticized the ceasefire agreement as a "historic mistake" on his X (formerly Twitter) account. He argued, "This is not a ceasefire. It is a return to the concept of silence for silence, and we have already seen where this leads," claiming that the war will eventually resume.