The deal aims to achieve a 60-day pause of hostilities in Lebanon, but Biden said the deal is designed “to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.”
US President Joe Biden called Israel and Hezbollah’s ceasefire agreement “good news” in a speech in the Rose Garden on Tuesday. He said the pause, that came into effect at 4 AM local time (2 AM GMT) on Wednesday, is designed “to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.”
On Tuesday, the Israeli Security Cabinet approved the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon in a 10-1 vote following shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recommendation.
Biden said in the next 60 days, the Lebanese army and the state security forces will deploy and take control of their own territory.
“Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon will not be allowed to be rebuilt. And over the next 60 days, Israel will gradually withdraw its remaining forces. And civilians, civilians on both sides will soon be able to safely return to their communities.”
The US has been a steadfast supporter of Israel, and Biden reiterated this stance claiming if “Hezbollah or anyone else breaks the deal and poses a direct threat to Israel, then Israel retains the right to self-defense.”
It mirrors Netanyahu’s statement following his recommendation to the Cabinet, where he warned that “the duration of the ceasefire depends on what will happen in Lebanon.”
The Israeli prime minister added that in understanding with the US, Israel maintains full military freedom of action. “If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to arm itself, we will attack. If it tries to renew terrorist infrastructure near the border – we will attack.”
Macron says agreement marks a ‘new page’ for Lebanon.
Biden thanked France’s president Emmanuel Macron for his partnership in reaching the deal, and said that the US would work together with France and others to provide assistance required for the successful implementation of the deal.
Speaking in a video message, Macron welcomed the ceasefire deal and said it marked a “new page” for Lebanon.
“It is important that this ceasefire be respected, that it lasts in order to restore the security of the Lebanese, the security of Israelis, allow for the return of the displaced from both countries to their homes and allow for the restoration of the sovereignty of Lebanon.”
Macron emphasized that the restoration of Lebanon’s sovereignty requires the election of a new president who is “capable of bringing the Lebanese people together by the formation, as well, of a strong and representative government and by the adoption of necessary reforms for the economic and financial recovery of the country.”
Other world leaders also showed their support for the deal on social media platform X.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati said he welcomed the agreement, and thanked the US and France for their efforts made, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog said the decision is both “correct and important,” and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen called the announcement “very encouraging news.”
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the deal, saying “Netanyahu does not know how to bring security to Israel,” and stressed the urgency of sealing a hostage deal.
Biden’s announcement came moments before an Israeli airstrike rocked the Lebanese capital of Beirut. In the hours leading up to the Cabinet meeting, Israel issued a record number of evacuation warnings, and local authorities claim strikes across Lebanon killed at least 24 on Tuesday.
Israel had previously signalled that they would continue their attacks up until the implementation of the ceasefire deal at 4 AM local time on Wednesday.
Hezbollah also fired rockets on Tuesday, triggering air raid sirens across the north of Israel.
The deal does not address the war in Gaza
The pause in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah does not encompass Israel’s war in Gaza, however Biden expressed hope that the ceasefire deal would be catalyst to also reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Biden said the US will work together with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar and Israel “in coming days” to reach an agreement between Israel and the militant group Hamas.
“Just as the Lebanese people deserve a future of security and prosperity, so do the people of Gaza. They, too, deserve an end to the fighting and displacement,” he said.
Biden added that the US “remains prepared to conclude a set of historic deals with Saudi Arabia to include a security pact and economic assurances, together with a credible pathway for establishing a Palestinian state and the for the full normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.”
The US president is adament that the only path towards an agreement includes the release of the hostages. Last week, the US vetoed a UN resolution that called for a ceasefire in Gaza, and claimed it did not make the release of hostages a condition. It marked the fourth time this year the Biden’s administration vetoed a UN resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office in January, has previously said he would bring peace to the Middle East but has not specified how.
