Hezbollah is considering a US-Israeli ceasefire proposal as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group intensify. The US ambassador to Lebanon relayed the proposal to the Lebanese government, with the aim of achieving a 60-day cessation of hostilities. This proposal, endorsed by US President-elect Donald Trump, is the first to be submitted by the US and Israel since a temporary ceasefire negotiated in late September was disrupted by the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a major bombing attack in Beirut.
The ceasefire proposal, outlined to Lebanon’s Speaker of Parliament who is close to Hezbollah, is being portrayed as the basis of a lasting ceasefire. The terms of the agreement lie within the parameters of UN Resolution 1701, which ended the Lebanon-Israel war of 2006. The resolution stipulates that the only armed groups in the area south of Lebanon’s Litani River should be the Lebanese army and UN peacekeeping forces.
The proposal focuses on the mechanism of implementation and the role of the Lebanese Armed Forces in implementing Resolution 1701 in the south of the Litani River. It also addresses smuggling routes through the country’s international borders. The Lebanese government is optimistic that Hezbollah will agree to the terms of the agreement and is expected to submit an official response next Monday. Diplomatic efforts are currently underway to reach a resolution to the conflict.
The US embassy in Beirut has declined to comment on the ceasefire negotiations, indicating that discussions are ongoing behind the scenes. The involvement of key stakeholders and the endorsement of the US President-elect signal a renewed push for peace in the region. The ceasefire proposal represents a significant step towards de-escalating tensions and establishing a sustainable peace agreement between Israel and Hezbollah.
