Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire Agreement
Hezbollah began in 1985 as a political party and militant group in Lebanon. Since 1997, however, the group has been designated as a terrorist organization by America and many other countries. Meaning “Party of God,” Hezbollah represents the Shi’a population of Lebanon - a portion of the population that was often poor and disadvantaged - and was formed in 1985 following the Lebanon invasion of 1982. Their founding document identifies Israel as an unjust Western entity and calls for its destruction. Hezbollah gained support over time due to its goal of destroying Israel. The group operates as a proxy for Iran, consistently receiving substantial support and backing from the Iranian government.
Since its founding, Israel and Hezbollah have had a contentious relationship defined by many on-and-off periods of military confrontation and cross-border raids. The conflict escalated strongly during the 2006 Lebanon War and again following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7th, 2023. Since then, more than 60,000 northern Israelis have been displaced due to the conflict. In response, Israel has increased its defense in the last two months - much of Hezbollah’s leadership has been killed, and many of their drone and missile capabilities have been destroyed. Hamas and Hezbollah have openly supported one another due to their shared goal of destroying Israel, opposing Western culture, and their common connection to financial backing from Iran.
Amid increasing conflicts, Israel and Hezbollah agreed on a US-brokered ceasefire that will put an end to 14 months of fighting across the border starting at 4:00 am local time on the morning of Wednesday, November 27. Israel’s national security cabinet voted 10-1 in support of the agreement. The unpublished agreement reportedly specifies a 60-day transition time. Around 5,000 Lebanese Army soldiers and UN Peacekeepers will replace Hezbollah to be stationed south of the Litani River during this period, including at 33 locations near the Israeli border, while the IDF will withdraw from southern Lebanon. Hezbollah's military facilities will be demolished, and the group is expected to evacuate the region. The United States is also reported to have sent a separate letter confirming Israel's authority to retaliate against Hezbollah, should the ceasefire be violated. Israel’s Prime Minister, Netanyahu, emphasized this stance, declaring that Israel will “attack with might” should the agreement be violated.
President Biden expressed his gratitude to French President Emmanuel Macron for his instrumental role in facilitating this agreement. Both countries will remain involved in order to keep watch on the execution of this agreement. The US and France said in a joint statement, “this announcement will create the conditions to restore lasting calm and allow residents in both countries to return safely to their homes.”
Hopes are high in Israel, as Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that Hamas has relied on Hezbollah to fight alongside them from the beginning of the war, and this agreement will negatively affect Hamas’ confidence and capabilities. In addition, ending the war with Hezbollah will allow Israel to focus more of their resources on the war with Hamas.
While the ceasefire is a very important step toward peace between Israel and Hezbollah, its effectiveness was not brought to fruition. Hezbollah violated the ceasefire agreement criteria hours after it went into effect. Thus, these agreements remain uncertain due to the deep-rooted mistrust and years of animosity between the parties involved. It is essential to approach the deal with cautious optimism, as historical precedents suggest that lasting peace will be a challenging goal to achieve.
Jayden Engelhardt
