US President Joe Biden says Israel and Lebanon have accepted a proposal to end the “devastating” Israel-Hezbollah conflict, setting the stage to halt nearly 14 months of cross-border fighting that has killed thousands of people.
In a televised address from Washington, DC, on Tuesday, Biden said the truce would begin at 4am local time (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday. The agreement did not relate to the ongoing Israeli operations in Gaza.
“Lasting security for the people of Israel and Lebanon cannot be achieved only on the battlefield. That’s why I directed my team to work with the governments of Israel and Lebanon to forge a
Barely an hour of the ceasefire announcement, The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that three projectiles crossed from Lebanon into Israel earlier, after Netanyahu addressed his country about the ceasefire deal.
In a post on Telegram, the IDF said that sirens sounded in the Western and Central Galilee areas and Shtula.They say after this, three projectiles were intercepted by their air force.
Speaking at the White House Biden said, “Let’s be clear, Israel did not launch this war, Lebanese people did not seek that war either, nor did the United States”.
He added that he had been directing assets to flow into the region, “to defend Israel and to deter our common enemy at a critical moment.”
Since the war began, more than 70,000 Israelis have been forced to live as refugees, Biden said, as they watch their communities “destroyed”.
He added that over 300,000 Lebanese people have also been forced to become refugees.
“This has been the deadliest conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in decades.”
President Biden, speaking from the Rose Garden, opened by saying Lebanon and Israel have agreed to the ceasefire deal that the US helped to broker.When it takes effect, Biden said: “The fighting will end. Will end. This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.”
He reiterated that civilians on both sides will soon be able to safely return to their communities.
The US, with France and allies, has pledged to work with Israel and Lebanon to make sure it’s “fully” implemented, he said. He also made sure to emphasize that no US troops would be involved.
On Gaza, he said the people there also deserve an end to fighting.
“The people of Gaza have been through hell. Their world has been shattered.”
Biden said his administration will continue to push for a ceasefire in Gaza too.
Biden said that the team has collaborated with Israel and Lebanon to establish a ceasefire, which will bring the conflict to a close, effective from 02:00 GMT (04:00 local time) early Wednesday.
He stated that over the next 60 days, Israel will gradually withdraw its remaining forces.
People in both Lebanon and Israel will soon be able to safely return to their communities and begin rebuilding their lives, Biden says.
He added that if Hezbollah breaks the agreement, Israel has the right to self-defence in accordance with international law.
Biden turned to Gaza, saying people there “deserve an end to the fighting and displacement”.
“People of Gaza have been through hell,” and they have suffered “too much”, he adds.
“Hamas has a choice to make”, he adds, saying the “only way out” is to release the hostages taken from Israel last year.
He says in the coming days the US will make another push to “achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.”
This brings them closer to a vision of a future in the Middle East of peace, he says.
The US remains prepared to do “historic deals” for establishing a Palestinian state and a normalisation of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
“I believe this agenda remains possible,” the US president says, and adds that he will spend the remaining days in office working “tirelessly” towards this.
Biden concluded by stating that today’s ceasefire announcement is a crucial step towards achieving peace and prosperity in the Middle East.
He applauded the decision made by the leaders of Lebanon and Israel to end the violence.”It reminds us that peace is possible,” he said.