A ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah is reportedly “very close,” This comes as Israeli strikes have intensified, pushing Lebanon’s death toll beyond 3,000 since mid-September, as per Lebanese health ministry statistics.
The proposed agreement, which includes a 60-day pause in hostilities, has been under discussion with US envoy Amos Hochstein mediating talks with regional stakeholders. Despite progress, Israeli officials emphasized that no final approval has been given yet. “We are moving in this direction, but there are still some issues to address,” a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated.
The conflict escalated after Hezbollah launched cross-border attacks in solidarity with Hamas during its confrontation with Israel in Gaza. Israel responded with a major offensive, including ground invasions and targeted strikes, killing key Hezbollah leaders such as Hassan Nasrallah, one of the group’s founders.
The toll has been devastating, with over 3,000 dead and 13,426 injured, as confirmed by Lebanese health ministry figures. On Saturday alone, 84 people lost their lives in Israeli attacks, including nearly 30 killed in a densely populated Beirut neighborhood.
The urgency for a ceasefire has grown as mediators aim to halt the violence. However, US envoy Hochstein warned of withdrawing from mediation if Israel fails to respond positively to the proposal in the coming days. The next steps remain uncertain as the death toll continues to climb.
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