TPC Staff
The Palestine Chronicle / January 23, 2025
There are 72 hours left for the Israeli army to pull out from south Lebanon, according to a ceasefire agreement reached last November between Israel and Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked US President Donald Trump for additional time for Israel to maintain its military positions in south Lebanon as a deadline approaches, according to Israeli media.
“Israel has requested the U.S. for a 30-day extension,” to the Israeli army’s “deadline for withdrawing from southern Lebanon set in the cease-fire agreement,” Haaretz reported, citing a French diplomatic source.
The US, France, Lebanon and Israel are “are engaged in intensive discussions on the issue,” the paper noted, adding that according to the source, France “will accept” any agreed outcome that guarantees the ceasefire will continue.
‘Permanent truce’
Under a ceasefire agreement reached last November between Israel and Lebanon, the Israeli army is required to pull out from southern Lebanon within 60 days. With just 72 hours left, the Anadolu news agency reported, the time is fast approaching for Israel to vacate all the territories it occupied during its recent war against the Hezbollah movement.
“In four days, the ceasefire agreement in the north is set to transition into a permanent truce – and the Israeli army is scheduled to evacuate all forces from southern Lebanon,” Israel’s Channel 13 reported, according to Anadolu.
However, Netanyahu has asked the Trump administration to agree to keep five Israeli military positions in southern Lebanon, the broadcaster added.
Israel’s security cabinet is scheduled to convene on Thursday to discuss the issue, the report added.
Strategic military positions
According to the channel, the request was submitted in the past 24 hours by Netanyahu’s close ally, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.
The report cited senior Israeli officials who said “the matter concerns five strategic military positions that form a buffer zone between the residents of northern Israel and the residents of southern Lebanon.”
The justification included in Netanyahu’s request was that “the agreement has not been fully implemented, partly because the Lebanese army is deployed in the area,” according to the report.
The channel emphasized that “there are a significant number of officials in the Israeli security establishment who, like Netanyahu, believe that they should remain in southern Lebanon (even after the 60-day deadline) – but only with the approval of the Trump administration.”
Ceasefire violations
Meanwhile, the Israeli army committed eight ceasefire violations in Lebanon on Wednesday, bringing the total to 629 breaches since the agreement took effect on November 27, reported Anadolu.
Israeli army forces burnt a house in southern Lebanon on Thursday, in the latest violation of a ceasefire agreement, the agency noted.
It cited the Lebanese state news agency NNA as having reported that the house was set ablaze in the eastern neighbourhood of Qantara town in the Marjayoun district.
It came after at least 11 Israeli violations of the November 27, 2024 ceasefire agreement were reported on Wednesday, bringing the total violations to 633 since the deal came into force.
A fragile ceasefire has been in place, ending a period of mutual shelling between Israel and the that began on October 8, 2023, and escalated into full-scale conflict on September 23, 2024.
Under the ceasefire agreement, the Israeli army must complete its withdrawal from southern Lebanon within the 60-day timeframe which ends in a few days.
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Hezbollah warns of consequences if Israel fails to meet withdrawal deadline
TPC Staff
The Palestine Chronicle / January 23, 2025
Hezbollah warns that any failure by Israel to meet the 60-day withdrawal deadline will not be tolerated, urging Lebanon’s government to take action.
The Lebanese Resistance Movement Hezbollah confirmed today Thursday that with the approaching end of the 60-day deadline for the Israeli occupation to withdraw from Lebanese territories, it is “mandatory” for its forces to fully and comprehensively implement the provisions of the ceasefire agreement.
In a statement, Hezbollah addressed recent leaks discussing the possibility of the occupation delaying its withdrawal and remaining longer in Lebanon. The group stressed that this would “require everyone, especially Lebanon’s political authority, to pressure the sponsoring countries of the agreement to act effectively and follow through with the final days of the deadline.”
Hezbollah added that there must be full implementation of the withdrawal, with the Lebanese army deployed across every inch of Lebanese land, the rapid return of displaced citizens to their villages, and no room for any pretext to prolong the occupation.
The statement emphasized that any breach of the 60-day deadline would be a blatant violation of the agreement, an ongoing assault on Lebanese sovereignty, and a new phase of occupation. It would require the state to respond using all the means and methods guaranteed by international conventions to reclaim the land and free it from the occupation.
Hezbollah affirmed that while it will continue to monitor developments, any violation of the agreement and commitments will not be tolerated, and any attempt to evade the agreement under false pretences would be unacceptable.
The group called for strict adherence, with no concessions.
It is worth noting that the 60-day deadline for the Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon ends this coming Sunday, according to the ceasefire agreement, which went into effect on November 27.
As the deadline approaches, Israel has requested the United States to extend the Israeli military’s stay in southern Lebanon for 30 days beyond the deadline set by the ceasefire agreement, according to a source familiar with the details who spoke to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
According to the newspaper, officials from the United States, France, Lebanon, and Israel are holding intensive discussions on the matter, according to a French diplomatic source. France has stated it will accept any outcome reached by the involved parties, including Lebanon and Israel, to ensure the continuation of the ceasefire.
In an interview with Israeli Army Radio, Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog, confirmed that Israel is in discussions with the Trump administration to extend the Israeli military’s stay in southern Lebanon beyond Sunday, the date stipulated in the ceasefire agreement.
Meanwhile, Israel continues to violate the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon, showing disregard for any international agreements made under global sponsorship, the Al-Mayadeen news network reported.
