THE First Minister of Scotland has called for efforts to be concentrated on a ceasefire in Gaza following a deal made between Israel and Hezbollah.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced yesterday that he had agreed to a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
It comes after weeks of negotiations with the US and other Western allies, with the Netanyahu confirming he would now present the deal to his cabinet.
He made the announcement as Israeli warplanes struck across Lebanon, killing at least 23 people.
Swinney wrote on social media, reacting to the news: "The ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon is evidence that peace in the Middle East is possible.
"Efforts must now be concentrated on a ceasefire in Gaza to bring an end to the wide scale death and suffering of innocent civilians."
Former First Minister Humza Yousaf also reacted, stating: "Good. May it be Gaza next, and soon. 14 months of complete hell must stop now."
Long-displaced residents of south Lebanon started returning to their homes amid celebrations hours after a ceasefire between Israel and the Hezbollah took effect early on Wednesday morning.
The ceasefire has brought relief across the tiny Mediterranean nation, coming after days of some of the most intense airstrikes and clashes since the war began, though many wondered if the agreement to stop fighting would hold.
Israel has said it will attack if Hezbollah breaks the ceasefire agreement.
