The ceasefire deal is the first meaningful de-escalation in the Middle East since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
Nov 28, 2024 05:20 IST First published on: Nov 28, 2024 at 05:20 IST
For a region on the brink, the 60-day ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah provides a much-needed pause and an opportunity. Brokered by Washington, it will be enforced by the US and France. According to the deal, 5,000 Lebanese military personnel will replace Hezbollah forces in South Lebanon, and Israeli and Lebanese civilians will return to the region. The ability of Lebanese forces to enforce the ceasefire has been doubtful in the past. However, Hezbollah has been considerably weakened and this may be an opportunity for the state of Lebanon to reassert control. Israel’s PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, has warned that Tel Aviv reserves the right to take military action if “terrorist” infrastructure is rebuilt.
The ceasefire deal is the first meaningful de-escalation in the Middle East since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Israel’s response has been unconscionably disproportionate — the killing of over 44,000 civilians is a form of collective punishment that cannot be justified. With the conflict expanding to Lebanon and Iran and its proxies, there was every indication that the region was in for a prolonged regional conflict. The next two months are an opportunity to ensure that those fears do not translate to reality. US President Joe Biden has said that the agreement “is designed to be a permanent ceasefire”. For something resembling peace in the region, it is a necessary, not sufficient, step.
An end to the conflict is in the interests of both Israel and Iran and its proxies. Both sides have faced casualties, displacement of thousands of people, economic disruptions and both are less secure than before. For the agreement with Hezbollah to turn into something more durable, however, the violence must end in Gaza. The attacks by Israel in this region are at the core of the current conflict. For Netanyahu, who faces several political challenges domestically and rising opprobrium internationally, the window for negotiation is now open. He must use it, as patience for Israel’s actions is wearing thin in the global community.
