Global reactions to Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire reflect hope and caution
The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has led to positive reactions worldwide. The United States, European countries, China and countries from the region have spoken positively about the agreement reached, which went into effect on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday.
Announced in a joint statement by US president Joe Biden and French president Emmanuel Macron, the agreement aims to prevent further threats to Israel from Hezbollah and facilitate the return of refugees in both countries.
European nations welcomed the development enthusiastically. British prime minister Keir Starmer stated that the truce was "long overdue," while German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock described it as a "glimmer of hope for the entire region."
Belgian minister of foreign affairs Hadja Lahbib, took to X to voice her support of the ceasefire, saying, "The ceasefire agreement in Lebanon is a crucial step towards stopping the escalation in the Middle East." She also called for a ceasefire in the whole region, specifically Gaza.
Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof echoed similar sentiments on X, stating, "It is good that, thanks to American and French efforts, an agreement has been reached on a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah." Schoof also noted the need for a similar ceasefire in Gaza.
In the region, reactions were more varied. Egypt hailed the agreement as a step toward de-escalation. Turkey urged international pressure on Israel to ensure compliance with the terms and called for compensation to Lebanon for the damage caused by the conflict.
Meanwhile, Iran, a key ally of Hezbollah, expressed satisfaction that Israeli "aggression" in Lebanon had ended, and the Houthi rebels, another Iranian ally, declared the ceasefire a "victory for Hezbollah." Iraq called for intensified international efforts to prevent further escalation and demanded urgent measures to end the ongoing war in Gaza.
China also responded positively, stating it was closely monitoring the situation and supporting all initiatives that promote peace in the region.
UN Resolution
The 60-day ceasefire seeks to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which was originally adopted in 2006 to end the 34-day war between Israel and Lebanon. The resolution had maintained relative calm in the area for nearly two decades, requiring Israel to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon and mandating that only the Lebanese military and UN peacekeeping forces remain south of the Litani River.
However, hostilities resumed after the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel in 2023, when Hezbollah launched cross-border attacks in solidarity with the Palestinian group, sparking more than a year of violence.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that the ceasefire’s duration will depend "on what happens in Lebanon." He stated, "If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack."
The Lebanese government reported that since October 2023, at least 3,823 people have been killed in Lebanon due to the violence. On the Israeli side, 82 soldiers and 47 civilians have lost their lives in clashes with Hezbollah. The conflict has displaced tens of thousands of Israelis and forced hundreds of thousands of Lebanese to flee their homes.
Despite the ceasefire, tensions remain. Shortly after it came into effect, the Israeli army fired on vehicles attempting to enter a no-go zone on Lebanese territory, causing them to retreat.
Men wave the flag of Hezbollah as they arrive in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh on November 27, 2024, as displaced people make their way back to their homes in the south of Lebanon after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect. PHOTO © MAHMOUD ZAYYAT / AFP
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