JERUSALEM, Israeli — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given initial approval to a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, sources confirmed Sunday, November 24, 2024, following a high-stakes security consultation with Israeli officials.
However, several details of the US-backed proposal remain under negotiation, and the deal is not yet finalised.
The proposed agreement, which aims to implement a 60-day cessation of hostilities, has encountered reservations from the Israeli side.
These concerns are expected to be communicated to the Lebanese government on Monday, according to a source familiar with the matter.
While the Israeli cabinet has yet to approve the deal, officials indicate that talks are progressing positively.
Nevertheless, tensions remain high as cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah continues, raising the risk that a single miscalculation could derail the fragile discussions.
“We have a real opportunity to bring conflict to an end,” US envoy Amos Hochstein said during a visit to Beirut last week. “The window is now.”
Hochstein held meetings with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and parliament speaker Nabih Berri, who serves as Hezbollah’s main interlocutor in the negotiations.
Hochstein characterised the talks as “constructive” and noted that significant progress had been made in narrowing the gaps between the parties.
The negotiations come after months of escalating violence.
Israel launched a major offensive in Lebanon in mid-September, following Hezbollah’s October 8 attack on Israeli-controlled territory in solidarity with Hamas and Palestinians in Gaza.
The ensuing conflict has seen extensive casualties, including the death of senior Hezbollah figures such as Hassan Nasrallah, one of the group’s founders, as well as significant injuries on both sides.
Despite Beirut’s “positive” response to the draft agreement, as confirmed by Prime Minister Mikati last week, hurdles remain.
On Saturday, Hochstein reportedly warned the Israeli ambassador to Washington that continued delays could prompt the US to withdraw its mediation efforts, according to CNN analyst Barak Ravid.
The ceasefire deal, if finalised, would mark a significant pause in the conflict, providing an opportunity for broader discussions on lasting peace.
Regional observers caution, however, that the volatile situation could unravel if diplomatic efforts falter.
“This is ultimately the decision of the parties,” Hochstein emphasised before departing Beirut for Israel on Wednesday.
As talks progress under intense international scrutiny, the prospect of a ceasefire offers a glimmer of hope in a region long marred by conflict.
