France accuses Israel of violating ceasefire

Israel accused by France of violating ceasefire with Lebanon

France has expressed serious concerns about the situation on the border between Israel and Lebanon, denouncing repeated violations of the ceasefire by the Israeli army. According to a report published by Ynet, no fewer than 52 offenses were recorded in a single day. These incidents make Paris fear a collapse of the agreement, signed recently to bring stability to this sensitive area.

French sources stressed that Lebanon remains determined to maintain calm and prevent Hezbollah from redeploying in the south of the country. However, “we must give them time to prove themselves,” said a source close to the matter. Despite this stated commitment, France recognizes that Hezbollah is still trying to transfer weapons to this strategic region.

Lebanese authorities, notably General Joseph Aoun, commander of the armed forces, and interim Prime Minister Najib Mikati, maintain a close dialogue with Paris. These leaders reaffirm their desire to respect the ceasefire and ensure that Hezbollah does not return south of the Litani River, in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

Faced with French criticism, Israel responded that it would continue to act firmly against any violation of the truce, ensuring that strict measures were taken to enforce the agreement. An Israeli military source specified that the ceasefire monitoring system will become fully operational in the coming days, allowing reinforced surveillance of the borders.

Israel also reported neutralizing a Hezbollah team that was preparing a rocket attack from southern Lebanon. The Israeli army says it only reacts to provocations, taking care to avoid any uncontrolled escalation.

The ceasefire, which came into force last Wednesday, provides for a period of 60 days during which Israel must gradually withdraw from southern Lebanon, while the Lebanese army will take position in this area. Hezbollah, for its part, undertakes to withdraw north of the Litani River.

However, the situation remains fragile. Each violation of the agreement, whether attributed to one party or the other, threatens to compromise ongoing diplomatic efforts. Israeli channel KAN reported that France warned both camps against any action likely to restart hostilities.

The commitment of international actors, including France, is crucial to preserve regional stability. If Lebanon seems ready to cooperate, the complexity of the situation on the ground and the mistrust between the parties make the task difficult. It remains to be seen whether the coming weeks will consolidate this truce or whether persistent tensions will lead to a resumption of fighting.

Hope for lasting peace rests not only on the Lebanese government's willingness to maintain the ceasefire, but also on Hezbollah's willingness to actually respect it. If the armed group takes advantage of the truce to rearm and reorganize, it is legitimate for the Israeli army to intervene in the event of proven violations. Moreover, the IDF General Staff has already warned Hezbollah that any breach of the terms of the agreement would result in an immediate response. The stability of the region will therefore depend on the ability of each party to honor its commitments and avoid any provocation likely to reignite the conflict.

Jforum.fr