Israel-Hezbollah, moving towards a ceasefire after global appeals –

In the last few hours, the President of the United States, Joe Biden, and the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, have launched a joint appeal for an immediate 21-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. In a statement, the two leaders stressed the need to establish a border agreement between Israel and Lebanon, with the aim of ensuring the safety of residents of the affected areas and facilitating their safe return to their respective homes. “It’s time to give diplomacy a chance,” Biden and Macron said, urging both sides to avoid further escalation of the conflict. American government sources, quoted by Sky News, expressed optimism, predicting the imminent entry into force of the agreement in the next few hours.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which has intensified since 7 October 2023, the day of the Hamas attack on Jewish land, risks resulting in an even wider crisis, with serious repercussions for the civilian population. Biden and Macron’s joint statement is supported by several countries, including Canada, Australia, Japan, and members of the European Union. According to the Washington Post, the agreement provides that the inhabitants of northern Israel, evacuated due to Hezbollah operations, will not be able to return to their homes until there are security guarantees. This aspect may require a broader understanding between Israel and Lebanon, which goes beyond a simple temporary ceasefire.

In reality, the initiative was not welcomed by everyone. Some members of the Israeli government have declared themselves against the proposal. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, through social media, expressed his opposition, underlining that the only way out of the conflict is the complete defeat of Hezbollah. According to Smotrich, granting a truce would allow the militant group to regroup and prepare for new attacks, frustrating Israeli military efforts. The Minister of Culture and Sports, Miki Zohar, also criticized the idea of ​​a ceasefire, calling it “a serious mistake” that could compromise the recent successes achieved by Israel in terms of security. The minister underlined the need to continue military operations until a definitive solution to the conflict in the north of the country is guaranteed. Meanwhile, the US administration hopes that the agreement can be accepted by both sides within a few hours, thus avoiding an even deeper crisis. Optimism is widespread.