The American news site Axios quoted American and Israeli officials as believing that Hezbollah “has finally become willing to distance itself from the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the Gaza Strip.”
According to Axios, an agreement could be reached to end the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah within weeks.
He pointed out that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the possible deal with ministers, army commanders and intelligence services.
Hezbollah had begun supporting the resistance in Gaza since the first day of the war on the Strip on October 7, 2023, and the party refused to stop engaging the Israeli army, which led the occupation army to launch an aggression against Lebanon in order to separate the two tracks from each other, which is what… Hezbollah still rejects it.
Axios stated that the visit of Amos Hochstein, US President Joe Biden’s envoy to Israel, indicates that Netanyahu supports moving forward with the conclusion of the deal, and that Hochstein was waiting for the Israelis to decide their position on the deal before heading to Israel.
The Israeli “Wala” news website had reported that Biden’s envoys, Hockstein and Brett McGurk, would visit Israel tomorrow, Thursday, in an effort to conclude an agreement to end the war in Lebanon.
What the website reported contradicts what Mahmoud Qamati, Vice President of Hezbollah’s Political Council, told Tel Aviv Tribune that the party has not received “any official political project or initiative.”
According to Al-Qamati, Hezbollah’s priority is the field now, stressing that “Hezbollah does not accept any negotiation under fire… let the aggression stop and we are ready to discuss all political issues.”
The US Department of Defense (the Pentagon) said that it still believes that there is an opportunity to reach a diplomatic settlement in Lebanon, and that it will continue to work to achieve this.
Draft agreement
The agreement in question – according to Axios – stipulates the declaration of a ceasefire followed by a 60-day transitional period. It is based on the re-implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. Hezbollah will also move its heavy weapons north of the Litani River, away from Israel’s borders, during the transitional period.
During the transitional period, the Lebanese army will deploy about 8,000 soldiers along the border with Israel, while the occupation army will gradually withdraw its forces to the Israeli side of the border during the transitional period.
It is noteworthy that the Israeli occupation army suffered heavy losses in southern Lebanon and was unable to advance on the ground for a long distance due to the fierce resistance it faces from Hezbollah fighters. The party said that 90 Israeli soldiers were killed since the start of the ground incursion at the beginning of this month.
After the killing of 10 occupation soldiers and the wounding of about 20 others a few days ago, Galant described the death of the Israeli soldiers as a difficult day, and stressed that Israel must remain united in order to stand firm.
What the site mentioned coincides with what several Israeli media outlets announced that the Israeli army is close to ending its ground operation in Lebanon’s border villages with Israel, and that the army informed Netanyahu and his Defense Minister Yoav Galant that the time is right to end the fighting with Hezbollah.