Israeli Cabinet approves ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah
Israel's Cabinet has approved the U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal between Israel and Hezbollah on Tuesday after prolonged negotiations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had submitted the proposal to the Cabinet for approval on Tuesday evening, local time. The deal was approved 10-1, with only far-right minister Ben Gvir voting against the plan.
The deal then went into effect at 4 a.m. Wednesday, local time, as intended.
It went into effect five hours after the agreement was announced by Israel. Shortly after Israel shared the news, there was an announcement at the White House by President Joe Biden.
The Lebanese army and security forces will deploy in southern Lebanon over the next 60 days and take control of the territory controlled by Hezbollah, Biden said. At the same time, Israel will withdraw its forces over the next 60 days in order for civilians to return to their homes on both sides of the border.
However, with the deal not going into effect until morning, bombing continued in Beirut even as Biden wrapped up his comments.
"Israel appreciates the U.S. contribution to the process, and reserves its right to act against any threat to its security," the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said, translated from Hebrew.
Netanyahu said earlier, when submitting the deal for approval, that the deal still relies on the actions of Hezbollah.
Hezbollah has not yet officially commented on the ceasefire.
"The duration of the ceasefire depends on what happens in Lebanon," Netanyahu said in a statement. "We will enforce the agreement and respond forcefully to any violation. We will continue together until victory."
Biden echoed those thoughts in his comments, saying, "Let me be clear, if Hezbollah, or anyone else, breaks the deal and poses a direct threat to Israel, then Israel retains the right to self-defense, consistent with international law, just like any country when facing a terrorist group pledged to that country's destruction."
The prime minister hailed "great achievements" on all fronts of the war, including killing Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and destroying their weapons across the country.
"With full understanding with the United States, we maintain complete military freedom of action," Netanyahu said in the address, translated from Hebrew. "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. If it launches a rocket, if it digs a tunnel, if it brings in a truck with missiles -- we will attack."
The deal does not affect the ongoing war in Gaza being fought by Israel against Hamas. However, Biden said the U.S. will continue to work to find a peace in Gaza.
"Just as the Lebanese people deserve a future of security and prosperity, so do the people of Gaza," Biden said. "They too deserve an end to the fighting and displacement. People of Gaza have been through hell, their worlds absolutely shattered."
He continued, "Far too many civilians in Gaza have suffered far too much, and Hamas has refused for months and months to negotiate a good-faith ceasefire, and a hostage deal. And so now, Hamas has a choice to make their only way out is to release the hostages, including American citizens, which they hold."
Netanyahu attended a meeting with security officials on Sunday night regarding a ceasefire with Israel's Hezbollah adversaries in Lebanon, an Israeli official told ABC News.
This was part of ongoing talks, including Netanyahu's meeting last week in Israel with U.S. special envoy Amos Hochstein. Hochstein also traveled to Beirut to discuss a potential way forward.
Netanyahu then held a security cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning to discuss the deal and hold a cabinet vote, Israeli officials said.
In October, Israel invaded southern Lebanon in an escalation of the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group.
Tensions heightened last weekend as the countries' leaders worked to negotiate a ceasefire deal. On Sunday, Hezbollah fired about 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel in one of the group's heaviest retaliations in months.
