The US backed ceasefire between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah began on November 27, 2024.
- The agreement ended the deadliest confrontation between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in years.
- The onset of Israel’s relentless assault on Palestine in October 2023 has seen an increase in hostilities along the UN-demarcated Blue Line.
- Under the new ceasefire terms, Israeli forces can remain in Lebanon for 60 days.
Blue Line
- The Blue Line was set by the UN in 2000 after the end of Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon and now serves as a de facto border between the two countries.
- The ceasefire proposal draws on the provisions of Resolution 1701 passed by the UN Security Council (UNSC) in 2006.
UNSC Resolution 1701
- The UNSC Resolution 1701 aims at ending hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, and calls for the creation of a buffer zone as well as a permanent ceasefire.
- The resolution 1701 stipulates that the only armed groups in the area south of Lebanon’s Litani River should be the Lebanese army and UN peacekeeping forces (UN Interim Force in Lebanon – UNIFIL).
- It also prohibits Israel from encroaching on Lebanese territory by land, sea or air.
- In July 2006, Israel invaded Lebanon after Hezbollah killed three Israeli soldiers and kidnapped two others. The war lasted over a month and resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 Lebanese people and 170 Israelis.
- The UNSC unanimously passed Resolution 1701 on August 11, 2006, calling for a full cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.