Displaced residents return to southern Lebanon as Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire appears to hold

A dispatch from my colleague William Christou, who is on the ground in Lebanon:

The roads leading from Beirut to south Lebanon were filled with traffic just hours after a ceasefire was established between Hezbollah and Israel.

Hezbollah and the Amal political movement issued guidelines for residents who wanted to return to their villages, south of the Litani river – though the Lebanese state had yet to advise their citizens.

Lebanese reported that they had received calls with pre-recorded warnings from Israel, telling them to not return to the south as it is still a military area.

People sit in traffic as they return to their villages after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect in Ghazieh, Lebanon. Photograph: Mohammed Zaatari/AP

Doubts over whether the ceasefire would hold were widespread, as the smell of the overnight bombing hung over the southern suburbs of Beirut and an Israeli drone buzzed overhead, despite the ceasefire.

Nonetheless, residents had already returned to south Lebanon, whooping and cheering as they drove into Tyre, the second largest city in south Lebanon. Much of Tyre and surrounding cities lay in ruin, after two months of Israeli bombing.

It’s coming up on 9am in Tel Aviv, Beirut and Gaza. Here’s a recap of the latest developments:

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A 60-day ceasefire agreement brokered by the US between Israel and Hezbollah came into force at 4am local time (2am GMT) on Wednesday. If it holds, it represents a major milestone in the 14-month-old war in Lebanon, and will see Israel withdraw entirely from southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah will move its heavy weaponry north of the Litani River, about 18 miles (25km) north of the border.

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Joe Biden, the US president, hailed the “historic” deal and said it was designed to be a “permanent cessation of hostilities”. Biden issued a joint statement with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, pledging that both countries would work with Israel and Lebanon to ensure the agreement is “fully implemented and enforced”.

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The Israeli military warned displaced Lebanese residents from the country’s south that they could not return immediately as it remained a military area. “We will update you when it is safe to return to your homes,” the army’s spokesperson said in a post on social media. Though the ceasefire terms stipulate the IDF must withdraw completely from southern Lebanon within the 60-day period, it is not expected take place immediately.

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Lebanon’s army said on Wednesday morning it is preparing to deploy to the south of the country. The deployment is in accordance with UN resolution 1701 – which formed the basis of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire.

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Despite those warnings, streams of cars carrying people displaced from southern Lebanon in recent months began heading south early on Wednesday after the ceasefire came into force. Some celebratory gunshots could be heard in parts of Beirut’s southern suburbs. Residents whooped and cheered as they drove into Tyre, the second largest city in south Lebanon.

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Importantly for Israel, Hezbollah dropped its demand that a ceasefire in Lebanon was contingent on ending the fighting in Gaza. The Israel-Hezbollah deal will not have any direct effect on the fighting in Gaza, where US efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have not led to a deal. “Just as the Lebanese people deserve a future of security and prosperity, so do the people of Gaza,” Biden said during his address on Tuesday.

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Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, endorsed the ceasefire after his full cabinet approved the deal. He said Israel would retain “complete military freedom of action” and would respond “forcefully” if Hezbollah violated the agreement. In televised remarks, Netanyahu said that there were three reasons to pursue a ceasefire: to focus on the threat from Iran; replenish depleted arms supplies and rest tired reservists; and to isolate Hamas.

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News of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal was welcomed by world leaders. The UK’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, called for the ceasefire to be turned into “a lasting political solution”, adding that Britain and its allies would continue to be at the “forefront of efforts to break the ongoing cycle of violence” to achieve a “long-term, sustainable” peace in the Middle East. The president of the EU commission, Ursula von der Leyen, described it as “very encouraging news”.

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Iran on Wednesday said it welcomed the end of Israel’s “aggression” in Lebanon, after a ceasefire deal came into force between Israel and Hezbollah, an armed group backed financially and militarily by Tehran. It reiterated its support for the Lebanese government.

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Israeli airstrikes continued to pound Beirut even as Biden announced the ceasefire deal late on Tuesday and right down to the final hour before the truce took effect.

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At least 3,823 people have been killed and 15,859 others wounded in Israeli strikes on Lebanon since October 2023, according to the Lebanese health ministry on Tuesday. The latest figures include 55 people killed and 160 injured in strikes on Monday alone, the ministry said.

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Lebanon’s army said on Wednesday morning it is preparing to deploy to the south of the country, after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect, Reuters reports.

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The army also asked in a statement that residents of border villages delay returning home until the Israeli military withdraws.

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“With the ceasefire coming into effect, the army is taking the necessary measures to complete its deployment in the south,” the army said in a statement. “The army command calls on citizens to wait before returning to frontline villages and towns that Israeli enemy forces have penetrated, awaiting their withdrawal.”

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The Lebanese army is expected to deploy 5,000 troops to the south under the ceasefire agreement, to help fill the breach after the IDF vacates. The call for displaced residents to delay their return also echoes an earlier warning from the Israeli military.

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Iran on Wednesday said it welcomed the end of Israel’s “aggression” in Lebanon, after a ceasefire deal came into force between Israel and Hezbollah, an armed group backed financially and militarily by Tehran.

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“Welcoming the news” of the end of Israel’s “aggression against Lebanon”, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said in a statement, AFP reported, stressing Iran’s “firm support for the Lebanese government, nation and resistance”.

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Iranian affairs expert Tohid Asadi told Al Jazeera that Iran’s leaders are following the ceasefire in Lebanon closely, with the top priority for Tehran being “the extent to which this is going to be translated into de-escalation”.

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“This is the key objective for Iran – not to see an escalated situation, not to see an all-out war scenario,” the Tehran-based Asadi said.

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Despite a warning from the Israeli military (see earlier post here) that it was not yet safe to do so, streams of cars carrying people displaced from southern Lebanon in recent months began heading south early on Wednesday after the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into force.

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Reuters reports dozens of cars leaving the port city of Sidon south of Beirut about 4:00 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) and heading deeper into southern Lebanon.

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drive south from Lebanon’s southern coastal city Sidon, after a ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed group Hezbollah took effect at 0200 GMT on November 27, 2024.”,”caption”:”People drive south from Lebanon’s southern coastal city Sidon, after a ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed group Hezbollah took effect at 0200 GMT on November 27, 2024.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Aziz Taher/Reuters”}}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1732677857000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”22.24 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1732679021000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”22.43 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1732678163000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”22.29 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”22.29″,”title”:”Streams of cars head into southern Lebanon”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 27 Nov 2024 03.24 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 26 Nov 2024 19.02 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Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said Israeli forces remained deployed in their positions inside southern Lebanon “as the ceasefire comes into effect and in accordance with its terms”.

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He warned displaced Lebanese residents from the country’s south that they could not return immediately. “We will update you when it is safe to return to your homes,” he said in a post on social media.

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Though the ceasefire agreed by Israel and Lebanon stipulates that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) must withdraw completely from southern Lebanon within the stipulated 60-day timeframe, the return of the troops to Israel is not expected take place immediately.

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It is now past 4am local time in Tel Aviv and Beirut, and 2am GMT. That means the 60-day ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah is now in force.

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If it holds, it represents a major milestone in the 14-month-old war in Lebanon, and in what Joe Biden called a “historic” moment as he announced the deal from the White House earlier on Tuesday.

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The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, endorsed the ceasefire after his full cabinet approved the deal on Tuesday evening despite opposition from his far-right allies. In televised remarks, Netanyahu said he was ready to implement the deal, but added that Israel would retain “complete military freedom of action” in the event of an infringement by Hezbollah.

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Under the deal’s terms, Israel will withdraw entirely from southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah will move its heavy weaponry north of the Litani River, about 16 miles (25km) north of the border.

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During the transition phase, the Lebanese army will deploy to the buffer border zone alongside the existing UN peacekeeping force. Longstanding border disputes will be discussed after the 60-day withdrawal period.

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“This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities. What is left of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations will not be allowed, I emphasise, will not be allowed to threaten the security of Israel again,” Biden said.

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Fighting continued down to the final hour before the ceasefire took effect, with reports of strikes on south Beirut after the Israel army issued an evacuation warning. That came after the IDF and Hezbollah traded attacks on multiple fronts in the preceding hours (see earlier post here).

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Down to the final half-hour before the ceasefire comes into effect and AFP is reporting strikes on south Beirut after the Israel army’s evacuation warning.

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“Urgent warning to residents of the Beirut area,” army spokesperson Avichay Adraee had earlier said in a post on X, telling people in the Bachoura area in the city centre to leave, as well as “all residents in the southern suburb area”, specifically in Ghobeiry.

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The 60-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is due to go into effect at 4am local time (0200 GMT) on Wednesday.

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Under the deal’s terms, Israel will withdraw entirely from southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah will move its heavy weaponry north of the Litani River, about 16 miles (25km) north of the border.

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The US is expected to be a key security guarantor. American troops will not be committed to the Israel-Lebanon border but the US, France and its allies would provide the “necessary assistance” to ensure the deal is implemented “fully and effectively”, US President Joe Biden said. He said the ceasefire was designed to lead to “a permanent cessation of hostilities”.

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Importantly for Israel, Hezbollah dropped its demand that a ceasefire in Lebanon was contingent on ending the fighting in Gaza. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would “maintain full freedom of military action” in Lebanon “with the United States’ full understanding”.

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“If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to arm itself, we will attack,” Netanyahu said.

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Lebanon’s prime minister, Najib Mikati, earlier welcomed a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah during a call with the US president, Joe Biden, on Tuesday.

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A series of posts on X from Mikati described the proposal as a “fundamental step towards restoring calm and stability in Lebanon and enabling displaced persons to return to their towns and cities”.

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He thanked the US and France for their involvement, and reiterated his government’s commitment to “strengthen the army’s presence in the south”. Mikati said:

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n

While I value the joint efforts of the United States and France in reaching this understanding, I reaffirm the government’s commitment to implementing UN security council Resolution 1701, enhancing the presence of the Lebanese Army in the South, and cooperating with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil).

n

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Both sides appeared intent on trading attacks in the final hours before an agreed 60-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah comes into force.

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Israeli airstrikes continued to pound Beirut even as Biden announced the ceasefire deal late on Tuesday. Israel’s military issued more evacuation warnings for Beirut’s southern suburbs through the night. Several airstrikes were reported in Beirut.

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“Urgent warning to residents of the Beirut area,” army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said in a post on X early on Wednesday, telling people in the Bachoura area in the city centre to leave, as well as “all residents in the southern suburb area”, specifically in Ghobeiry.

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Hezbollah said it launched drones at “sensitive military targets” in Tel Aviv on Tuesday evening, after deadly Israeli strikes in Beirut and as news of a ceasefire deal was announced.

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“In response to the targeting of the capital Beirut and the massacres committed by the Israeli enemy against civilians,” Hezbollah launched “drones at a group of sensitive military targets in the city of Tel Aviv and its suburbs”, the Iran-backed group said in a statement.

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billows from buildings after the Israeli army launched an airstrikes on the Dahieh district in Beirut in Lebanon on Tuesday on 26 November 2024. 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Israeli airstrikes killed at least 10 people in central Beirut on Tuesday, Lebanon’s health ministry said. At least seven people were killed and 37 others injured after Israel launched attacks on 20 targets on the Lebanese capital in just 120 seconds, it said.

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Israeli strikes late on Tuesday also targeted Lebanon’s three northern border crossings with Syria for the first time, Lebanon’s transport minister Ali Hamieh told Reuters.

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The strikes came moments after the US president, Joe Biden, announced that a ceasefire in Lebanon would come into effect at 4am local time (0200 GMT) on Wednesday.

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Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Middle East crisis.

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At 4am local time (0200 GMT), we are expecting a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah to come into effect. The deal was announced by Joe Biden on Tuesday, after Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said his ministers had approved it.

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“This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities,” Biden said.

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Lebanon’s prime minister, Najib Mikati, has welcomed the deal as a “fundamental step towards restoring calm and stability in Lebanon and enabling displaced persons to return to their towns and cities”.

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The US, EU, UN and G7 had all pushed for a halt in the fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah after more than a year of violence.

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Biden and the French president, Emmanuel Macron, said the ceasefire would protect Israel from Hezbollah and create the conditions for a “lasting calm”. Macron later said the deal could “open the path” for an end to the war in Gaza.

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In the hours before the ceasefire, Hezbollah said it launched drones at “sensitive military targets” in Tel Aviv following deadly Israeli strikes in Beirut.

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Here is our full report:

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And these are the main developments so far today:

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n
Joe Biden, the US president, announced a highly anticipated ceasefire to end the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. In remarks from the White House Rose Garden, Biden hailed the “historic” deal and said it was designed to be a “permanent cessation of hostilities”.

n
The 60-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is due to go into effect at 4am local time (0200 GMT) on Wednesday. The US is expected to be a key security guarantor. American troops will not be committed to the Israel-Lebanon border but the US, France and its allies would provide the “necessary assistance” to ensure the deal is implemented “fully and effectively”, Biden said.

n
Under the deal’s terms, Israel will withdraw entirely from southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah will move its heavy weaponry north of the Litani River, about 16 miles (25km) north of the border. During a 60-day transition phase, the Lebanese army will deploy to the buffer border zone alongside the existing UN peacekeeping force. Longstanding border disputes will be discussed after the 60-day withdrawal period.

n
Importantly for Israel, Hezbollah dropped its demand that a ceasefire in Lebanon was contingent on ending the fighting in Gaza. The Israel-Hezbollah deal will not have any direct effect on the fighting in Gaza, where US efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have not led to a deal. “Just as the Lebanese people deserve a future of security and prosperity, so do the people of Gaza,” Biden said during his address on Tuesday. Asked if he would be able to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza before leaving office, Biden crossed his fingers and replied: “I think so. I hope so. I’m praying.”

n
Biden issued a joint statement with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, pledging that both countries would work with Israel and Lebanon to ensure the agreement is “fully implemented and enforced”. “This announcement will create the conditions to restore lasting calm and allow residents in both countries to return safely to their homes on both sides of the Blue Line,” the two leaders said.

n
Biden’s announcement came after Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, endorsed the ceasefire after his full cabinet approved the deal. Israel’s national security cabinet voted to approve the deal by 10-1, according to the prime minister’s office. The far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said he opposed the agreement, calling it a “historical mistake” but did not threaten to withdraw from Netanyahu’s ruling coalition.

n
Netanyahu said Israel would retain “complete military freedom of action” and would respond “forcefully” if Hezbollah violated the agreement. In televised remarks after the Israeli security cabinet voted on the proposal, Netanyahu said that there were three reasons to pursue a ceasefire: to focus on the threat from Iran; replenish depleted arms supplies and rest tired reservists; and to isolate Hamas.

n
Lebanon’s prime minister, Najib Mikati, welcomed the ceasefire deal, describing it as a “fundamental step towards restoring calm and stability”. Mikati thanked the US and France for their involvement, and reiterated his government’s commitment to “strengthen the army’s presence in the south”.

n
News of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal was welcomed by world leaders. The UK’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, called for the ceasefire to be turned into “a lasting political solution”, adding that Britain and its allies would continue to be at the “forefront of efforts to break the ongoing cycle of violence” to achieve a “long-term, sustainable” peace in the Middle East. The president of the EU commission, Ursula von der Leyen, described it as “very encouraging news”.

n
Israeli airstrikes continued to pound Beirut even as Biden announced the ceasefire deal late on Tuesday. With just a few hours to go until the ceasefire went into effect, Israel’s military issued more evacuation warnings for Beirut’s southern suburbs. Several airstrikes were reported in Beirut.

n
Israeli airstrikes struck central Beirut earlier on Tuesday as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a flurry of evacuation warnings that sent large numbers of people fleeing to safer areas. Israeli airstrikes killed at least 10 people in central Beirut on Tuesday, Lebanon’s health ministry said. At least seven people were killed and 37 others injured after Israel made strikes on 20 targets on the Lebanese capital within 120 seconds, it said.

n
At least 3,823 people have been killed and 15,859 others wounded in Israeli strikes on Lebanon since October 2023, according to the Lebanese health ministry on Tuesday. The latest figures include 55 people killed and 160 injured in strikes on Monday alone, the ministry said.

n
At least 13 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a school sheltering displaced families in Gaza City on Tuesday, Reuters reported, citing medics. Dozens of people were also wounded in the strike that hit the Al-Hurreya school in the Zeitoun neighbourhood, medics said. Separately, seven people were killed during an Israeli airstrike on a house also in the Zeitoun area, and an Israeli strike killed at least one man in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah, Reuters said.

n
Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, said it should occupy the Gaza Strip and halve its Palestinian population by the “encouragement of voluntary emigration”. “We can and must conquer the Gaza Strip. We should not be afraid of that word,” Smotrich said at an event late on Monday.

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Reuters reports that Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri has this morning told it that the group hopes for a deal to end the war in Gaza, and says Hamas “appreciates” Lebanon’s right to reach an agreement with Israel.

In recent weeks, after nearly a year of efforts, Qatar pulled out of mediating ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, saying it did not believe that either side were continuing to negotiate in good faith.

Turkey has called for Israel to pay reparations for damage in Lebanon caused by its recent military campaign.

In a message offering support for the ceasefire agreement which came into force earlier today, Reuters reports the foreign ministry said:

It is imperative for the international community to exert pressure on Israel to fully comply with the ceasefire and to provide reparations for the damages it has caused in Lebanon.

Turkey also repeated its call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The number of people killed by Israeli strikes on Gaza on Wednesday morning has risen to 15, according to medics.

Reuters reports that the dead include two sons of former Hamas spokesperson, Fawzi Barhoum.

Mourners gather at Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City near the bodies of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes. 27 November. Photograph: Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters

Israeli media reports that, after the ceasefire came into effect, the IDF fired warning shots at what it suspected were Hezbollah operatives in the Lebanese village of Kfarkela.

Posting to social media, and citing the IDF, Kan news military correspondent Itay Blumental reported:

In the last hour, IDF forces identified a number of vehicles in Lebanese territory with suspected Hezbollah operatives, in a restricted area near Kfarkela. The forces fired to prevent their arrival in the area, and the suspects moved away. The IDF says that the air force is prepared to act. The territory of Lebanon and the air defence system is on high alert. As of this time, there is no change in the directives of the Home front command.

Kfarkela is directly opposite the Israeli town of Metula, at almost the very northern tip of Israeli-controlled territory.

Egypt’s foreign ministry has issued a statement saying it welcomes the ceasefire in Lebanon, and that it will lead to de-escalation in the region, Reuters reports.

In a round of diplomacy in the region, Jordan’s King Abdullah II is heading to Egypt today, and then on to Cyprus.

Palestinian news agency Wafa reports that “a number of citizens, including children and women” have been killed by continued Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since dawn. Strikes are reported to have taken place on Gaza City and Beit Lahia, and 12 people are reported killed.

It has not been possible for journalists to independently verify the casualty figures being issued during the conflict.

Not everybody on the Israeli side of the UN-drawn blue line that separates Israel and Lebanon is optimistic that the ceasefire will represent a long-term end to hostilities.

Speaking to Israel’s army radio, Gabby Neeman, the mayor of the northern city of Shlomi, said many Israelis will continue to stay away from their homes at present.

Neeman met with Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the ceasefire agreement, and said afterwards “Everything we were shown testifies to the fact that the next round is ahead of us, whether in a month, two months or 10 years.”

Summary of the day so far

It’s coming up on 9am in Tel Aviv, Beirut and Gaza. Here’s a recap of the latest developments:

A 60-day ceasefire agreement brokered by the US between Israel and Hezbollah came into force at 4am local time (2am GMT) on Wednesday. If it holds, it represents a major milestone in the 14-month-old war in Lebanon, and will see Israel withdraw entirely from southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah will move its heavy weaponry north of the Litani River, about 18 miles (25km) north of the border.
Joe Biden, the US president, hailed the “historic” deal and said it was designed to be a “permanent cessation of hostilities”. Biden issued a joint statement with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, pledging that both countries would work with Israel and Lebanon to ensure the agreement is “fully implemented and enforced”.
The Israeli military warned displaced Lebanese residents from the country’s south that they could not return immediately as it remained a military area. “We will update you when it is safe to return to your homes,” the army’s spokesperson said in a post on social media. Though the ceasefire terms stipulate the IDF must withdraw completely from southern Lebanon within the 60-day period, it is not expected take place immediately.
Lebanon’s army said on Wednesday morning it is preparing to deploy to the south of the country. The deployment is in accordance with UN resolution 1701 – which formed the basis of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire.
Despite those warnings, streams of cars carrying people displaced from southern Lebanon in recent months began heading south early on Wednesday after the ceasefire came into force. Some celebratory gunshots could be heard in parts of Beirut’s southern suburbs. Residents whooped and cheered as they drove into Tyre, the second largest city in south Lebanon.
Importantly for Israel, Hezbollah dropped its demand that a ceasefire in Lebanon was contingent on ending the fighting in Gaza. The Israel-Hezbollah deal will not have any direct effect on the fighting in Gaza, where US efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have not led to a deal. “Just as the Lebanese people deserve a future of security and prosperity, so do the people of Gaza,” Biden said during his address on Tuesday.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, endorsed the ceasefire after his full cabinet approved the deal. He said Israel would retain “complete military freedom of action” and would respond “forcefully” if Hezbollah violated the agreement. In televised remarks, Netanyahu said that there were three reasons to pursue a ceasefire: to focus on the threat from Iran; replenish depleted arms supplies and rest tired reservists; and to isolate Hamas.
News of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal was welcomed by world leaders. The UK’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, called for the ceasefire to be turned into “a lasting political solution”, adding that Britain and its allies would continue to be at the “forefront of efforts to break the ongoing cycle of violence” to achieve a “long-term, sustainable” peace in the Middle East. The president of the EU commission, Ursula von der Leyen, described it as “very encouraging news”.
Iran on Wednesday said it welcomed the end of Israel’s “aggression” in Lebanon, after a ceasefire deal came into force between Israel and Hezbollah, an armed group backed financially and militarily by Tehran. It reiterated its support for the Lebanese government.
Israeli airstrikes continued to pound Beirut even as Biden announced the ceasefire deal late on Tuesday and right down to the final hour before the truce took effect.
At least 3,823 people have been killed and 15,859 others wounded in Israeli strikes on Lebanon since October 2023, according to the Lebanese health ministry on Tuesday. The latest figures include 55 people killed and 160 injured in strikes on Monday alone, the ministry said.

Syria has revised the death toll upward to six in the alleged Israeli strikes late on Tuesday which targeted Lebanon’s three northern border crossings with Syria for the first time (see earlier post here). For clarity: the strikes occurred before Wednesday morning’s ceasefire took effect.

Syria’s state news agency reported four civilians and two soldiers were killed, and 12 people were wounded including children, women and Syrian Red Crescent workers.

The Red Crescent said earlier a volunteer was killed and another was injured in “the aggression that targeted Al-Dabousyeh and Al-Arida crossings … as they were performing their humanitarian duty of rescuing the wounded early on Wednesday.”

Here’s more from William Christou, reporting for the Guardian:

The Lebanese army said on Wednesday morning that it was deploying in south Lebanon in accordance with UN resolution 1701 – which formed the basis of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire. The resolution calls for the withdrawal of Hezbollah fighters north of the Litani river – about 18 miles from the Lebanon-Israel border – and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from south Lebanon.

The Lebanese army told residents of border villages not to return yet, as Israeli forces had not withdrawn from the villages.

Vehicles drive past damaged buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs, after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect. — Vehicles drive past damaged buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs, after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect. Photograph: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters

“Now we’re returning! We’re just waiting for authorisation from the army and we’ll go straight to the village – even though there are no houses left,” said Rita Darwish, a displaced resident of Dheira, a village directly on the border which was remotely detonated by Israel last month.

The highway leading back to south Lebanon was choked with traffic, filled with cars filled with families and mattresses strapped to their roofs. Families lined the roads near Saida, waving and cheering as cars passed by.

Despite the jubilation, doubts remained over how long the ceasefire might last. Israeli drones buzzed over the skies of Tyre and Beirut, a reminder that the war could resume at any moment.

Vehicles drive near damaged buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs, after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect, Lebanon 27 November 2024. — Vehicles drive near damaged buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs, after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect, Lebanon 27 November 2024. Photograph: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters

Displaced families carry mattresses as they prepare to return to their villages in Sidon, Lebanon Photograph: Mohammed Zaatari/AP

People celebrate after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect in Sidon, Lebanon. Photograph: Mohammed Zaatari/AP

People carry Hezbollah flags and a poster depicting late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, as they celebrate after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon 27 November 2024. — People carry Hezbollah flags and a poster depicting late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, as they celebrate after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Beirut’s southern suburbs, Lebanon 27 November 2024. Photograph: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters

Lebanon’s army says it is preparing to deploy to south Lebanon

Lebanon’s army said on Wednesday morning it is preparing to deploy to the south of the country, after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect, Reuters reports.

The army also asked in a statement that residents of border villages delay returning home until the Israeli military withdraws.

A dispatch from my colleague William Christou, who is on the ground in Lebanon:

The roads leading from Beirut to south Lebanon were filled with traffic just hours after a ceasefire was established between Hezbollah and Israel.

Hezbollah and the Amal political movement issued guidelines for residents who wanted to return to their villages, south of the Litani river – though the Lebanese state had yet to advise their citizens.

Lebanese reported that they had received calls with pre-recorded warnings from Israel, telling them to not return to the south as it is still a military area.

Doubts over whether the ceasefire would hold were widespread, as the smell of the overnight bombing hung over the southern suburbs of Beirut and an Israeli drone buzzed overhead, despite the ceasefire.

Nonetheless, residents had already returned to south Lebanon, whooping and cheering as they drove into Tyre, the second largest city in south Lebanon. Much of Tyre and surrounding cities lay in ruin, after two months of Israeli bombing.

Here is our latest full report taking in the first few hours of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah:

A highly anticipated ceasefire aimed at ending the 14-month-old war between Israel and Hezbollah officially came into effect early on Wednesday morning, hours after Joe Biden hailed the “historic” moment.

The ceasefire officially began at 0200 GMT – 4am in Lebanon – after the heaviest day of raids on Beirut, including a series of strikes in the city’s centre, since Israel stepped up its air campaign in Lebanon in late September before sending in ground troops.

A man gestures as he stands near a poster with the images of late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and late senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine, at the entrance of Beirut’s southern suburbs. Photograph: Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters

By 7am in Lebanon there were no immediate reports of alleged violations of the truce. Some celebratory gunshots could be heard in parts of Beirut’s southern suburbs.

The Israeli army warned soon after the ceasefire began that residents of south Lebanon should not approach Israel Defense Forces positions and villages its forces had ordered to be evacuated.

“With the entry into force of the ceasefire agreement and based on its provisions, the IDF remains deployed in its positions inside southern Lebanon,” army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said in a post on X.

A woman reacts after arriving in Tyre, Lebanon, after a ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed group Hezbollah took effect on 27 November 2024. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

“You are prohibited from heading towards the villages that the IDF has ordered to be evacuated or towards IDF forces in the area.”

However, Reuters reporters saw dozens of cars leaving the port city of Sidon south of Beirut around 4am local time and heading deeper into southern Lebanon.

Displaced people started returning to the coastal city of Tyre on motorcycles and in cars early Wednesday, defying an Israeli military warning to stay away from previously evacuated areas.

Ahmad Husseini said returning to southern Lebanon was an “indescribable feeling” and praised Speaker of parliament Nabih Berri, who led Lebanon’s negotiations with Washington. “He made us and everyone proud.”

Husseini, who earlier fled a town near the coastal city, spoke to The Associated Press while in his car with family members.

Women welcome the people coming back to Tyre, after a ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed group Hezbollah took effect in Lebanon on 27 November 2024. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Meanwhile, sporadic celebratory gunfire can be heard at a main roundabout in the city, as people returning honked the horns of cars – some piled with mattresses – and residents cheered.

A couple of men shouted slogans praising slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in September.

Hussein Sweidan said he sees the ceasefire as a victory for Hezbollah. “This is a moment of victory, pride and honor for us, the Shia sect, and for all of Lebanon,” he said.

A man who is returning to his village waves as he carries his belongings on his car after the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel began early morning, in Tyre, south Lebanon. Photograph: Hussein Malla/AP

Some more images crossing the wires as the day breaks in Lebanon:

A man reacts as he buys bread on his way back to southern Lebanon, after a ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed group Hezbollah took effect on 27 November 2024. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

A boy looks on from a vehicle on his way back to southern Lebanon, after a ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed group Hezbollah took effect on 27 November 2024. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

A view of Beirut's southern suburbs and its surroundings, with smoke rising from Israeli strikes that occurred before the ceasefire, as seen from Deir Qoubel, Lebanon 27 November 2024. — A view of Beirut’s southern suburbs and its surroundings, with smoke rising from Israeli strikes that occurred before the ceasefire, as seen from Deir Qoubel, Lebanon 27 November 2024. Photograph: Mohammed Yassin/Reuters

The UN humanitarian agency OCHA says the UN has been unable to reach people in Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun, in the north of the Gaza Strip, as it continues to face denials from Israeli authorities.

“Between 1 and 25 November, the UN attempted to reach these besieged areas 41 times,” OCHA said in its latest update.

Thirty-seven of these attempts were outright denied, while four were initially approved, but then severely impeded on the ground such that the assistance could not be delivered to people trapped in the besieged area.

Families recently displaced to Gaza City are facing critical shortages of supplies and services, severe overcrowding and dire hygiene conditions.

With the onset of heavy rains, over 1.6 million people living in makeshift shelters – nearly half a million of whom are in flood-prone areas urgently need adequate shelter, the agency said.

Iran welcomes end of Israel ‘aggression’ in Lebanon

“This is the key objective for Iran – not to see an escalated situation, not to see an all-out war scenario,” the Tehran-based Asadi said.

As images continue to come in of displaced Lebanese returning to their homes in the country’s south, this story by the Guardian’s Jason Burke is worth a read for the view from Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel.

“We are not expecting a promise of eternal peace,” one resident says. “I just want a quiet life to raise my kids and I know that the Lebanese people over the fence want the same … All wars end in diplomatic agreements so this will too.”

Source: www.theguardian.com