Israel has tentatively agreed to a ceasefire plan supported by the United States to halt hostilities with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu is currently strategizing how to present the ceasefire proposal to the public, following a series of high-level meetings on the matter, according to reports late last night.
The meeting took place while Israel was under attack by rocket fire from Lebanon, with the Israeli Air Force carrying out retaliatory airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut.
According to reports from Kan, Ynet, and Haaretz, which cited sources from Israel, Washington, and Beirut, approval of the ceasefire proposal has not yet been finalized. Several details are still being worked out, but Israel has agreed to the main terms. Ynet also reported that Lebanon has been informed of this decision.
Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem, stated last week that the group had reviewed the ceasefire proposal and submitted its response, signaling that the next move rests with Israel.
Haaretz outlined the proposal as consisting of three phases: an initial truce, followed by the withdrawal of Hezbollah forces north of the Litani River; a retreat of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon; and finally, negotiations between Israel and Lebanon to resolve disputed border areas.
The plan also calls for an international body, led by the United States, to oversee the ceasefire, with Israel expecting a letter from Washington that would reaffirm its right to take military action if Hezbollah violates the ceasefire terms and Lebanon’s military or international forces fail to intervene.
Kan reported that Netanyahu’s strategy for presenting the ceasefire to the public is to frame it as a beneficial agreement for Israel, rather than a compromise.
The consultations were held with top ministers and security officials, and Kan noted that part of the discussions focused on ensuring that Israel would retain the freedom to act along its borders with Lebanon and Syria once the agreement is finalized.
Multiple Hebrew media outlets reported that Amos Hochstein, a key U.S. envoy, warned Israeli officials over the weekend that this was their final opportunity to move forward with the deal. If they declined, he said, the matter would be put on hold until President Donald Trump took office in January and American mediation efforts could resume.
Hochstein visited both Beirut and Israel last week to advocate for the U.S.-backed ceasefire agreement, which includes Hezbollah withdrawing from southern Lebanon and the Lebanese army assuming control of the region.
Under the proposed ceasefire, the Lebanese Army would be tasked with preventing Hezbollah from re-establishing itself in southern Lebanon.
To help finalize the deal, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro was expected to arrive in Israel on Monday to facilitate the final stages of the negotiations, according to Channel 12.
As talks were ongoing Sunday, Hezbollah escalated its attacks on Israel, firing over 250 rockets and drones at northern and central Israel, injuring several people.
Israeli officials were not caught off guard by the increase in attacks, according to Channel 12, which reported that Israel had anticipated that Hezbollah would intensify its assaults as the ceasefire neared finalization.
Hezbollah’s objective, according to the report, was to demonstrate its continued ability to strike Israel and to deter Israeli actions against Beirut.
On Sunday, Hezbollah also released an AI-generated image showing damage to a highway, with a message threatening that “the fate of Tel Aviv would be the fate of Beirut” if Israel persisted in its attacks on the Lebanese capital.
{Matzav.com}