British Prime Minister Keir Stammer notably called for a broader ceasefire.
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The ceasefire agreement, based on an American project, provides for a sixty-day truce during which Hezbollah and the Israeli army withdraw from southern Lebanon to allow the Lebanese army to deploy there.
The interim government of Lebanon reaffirmed Wednesday through the voice of its Prime Minister Najib Mikatiits commitment to fulfilling its part of the agreement to end the war between Hezbollah and Israel. He declared: “Today is a new day, and we hope it will bring peace and stability.”
For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would attack if Hezbollah broke the ceasefire agreement. “If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack.”
Meanwhile, reactions continued to pour in around the world. British Prime Minister Keir Stammer called for a broader ceasefire. “The ceasefire announced in Lebanon was long overdue, but it demonstrates that diplomacy can succeed even in the most difficult circumstances. We must seize this opportunity to build trust, defuse tensions and promote a ceasefire -wider fire.”
The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrotfor his part declared that the close ties between Paris and Lebanon had contributed to the conclusion of the agreement. “It is true that the United States has a special relationship with Israel, but with Lebanon, it is France which has very old, very close ties. And this is the reason why the President of the Republic hoped, from the start of hostilities, more than a year ago now, that we work hard to find the conditions allowing this ceasefire which occurred last night.”
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen for her part declared that it is a matter of“very encouraging news, above all for the Lebanese and Israeli people affected by the fighting.” According to her, it is also a “opportunity” for Lebanon “to strengthen its internal security and stability thanks to the reduced influence of Hezbollah”.
Annalena Baerbock, German Foreign Minister, see in this agreement “a ray of hope for the entire region”. She declared that “the populations on both sides of the border want to live in real security that lasts”while greeting “a success for diplomacy.”
Iran welcomed the end of hostilities in Lebanon, where Tehran supports Hezbollah financially and militarily.
According to Lebanese authorities, Israel’s intensive bombing campaign left more than 3,700 people dead, including many civilians, and more than 130 people were killed on the Israeli side.
