Israel approves ceasefire deal in Lebanon, US to lead new 'effort' for Gaza deal

The Israeli security cabinet on Tuesday approved the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, where Israel is fighting the Islamist movement Hezbollah, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.

Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on the phone with US President Joe Biden and thanked him “for his involvement” in order to conclude this agreement, specified the services of the Israeli Prime Minister.

The President of the United States considered that this truce agreement marked “a new beginning“. The ceasefire will come into effect overnight, at 4 a.m. in Lebanon (3 a.m. French time).

Secondly, Joe Biden said he wanted to lead a new “effort” to obtain an agreement on Gaza.

Presidents Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron said in a joint statement on Tuesday that Washington and Paris would ensure that the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon was “implemented in full“.

“The United States and France will work with Israel and Lebanon to ensure that this arrangement is fully implemented and enforced“, underlined the two heads of state.

“They remain determined to ensure that this conflict does not provoke a new cycle of violence“, they added.