ISRAEL 🇮🇱 HEZBOLLAH in LEBANON 🇱🇧 CEASEFIRE
A ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon came into effect at 4 a.m. (3 a.m. CET) on Wednesday, bringing an end to almost 14 months of Hezbollah-initiated fighting across the northern border, which began the day after the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror onslaught in southern Israel. https://lnk.sk/dimb
A senior Hezbollah official says the terror group still wants to review the ceasefire deal authorized by Israel. “We must examine the points that Netanyahu agreed to before the [Lebanese] government signs tomorrow.” https://lnk.sk/gqd9
Reports suggest an internal rebellion within Hezbollah’s Jihadi Council, allegedly led by senior figure Haj Khalil Harb and the commander of the Badr Force. The rebellion is reportedly in protest against decisions to surrender, ceasefire, and withdrawal. Sheikh Naim Qassem has been labeled as weak, cowardly, and a traitor to Nasrallah’s legacy.
Hamas on Wednesday said it is ready for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip after the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, which came into effect on Wednesday morning. „We have informed mediators in Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey that Hamas is ready for a ceasefire agreement and a serious deal to exchange prisoners,“ a Hamas official told AFP. https://lnk.sk/qdf6
‚This is not the same Hezbollah‘: Netanyahu highlights reasons for a ceasefire agreement now. „We eliminated Nasrallah; we eliminated all The senior officials of the organization…” „We reserve the right to use all forms of military force if Hezbollah begins rearming contrary to the agreement.” https://lnk.sk/prgi
Defense Minister Israel Katz says that he is ordering the military to take “forceful” action to block what he says are Hezbollah members entering border villages where Israeli troops may still be operating. https://lnk.sk/qnz8
Earlier on Wednesday, Israel’s state broadcaster KAN reported that soldiers had fired warning shots at Hezbollah terrorists who attempted to return to Kfarkela in southern Lebanon. https://lnk.sk/irf9
Channel 12 poll about ceasefire, 37% say they support it, 32% say they oppose it and 31% say they don’t know. Among those who say they support Netanyahu’s coalition, however, only 20% back the deal, while 45% oppose it and 35% don’t know. https://lnk.sk/nj07
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir says he’ll oppose the ceasefire deal with Hezbollah, denouncing it as “a historic mistake,” but doesn’t say his far-right Otzma Yehudit party will quit in protest. https://lnk.sk/dget
Overnight before the ceasefire, the Israeli Air Force struck dozens of Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, including a major precision missile site, according to the IDF. Several waves of strikes, targeting some 330 Hezbollah sites, were carried out yesterday and into the night, right up until the ceasefire took effect at 4 a.m. https://lnk.sk/mcit
A senior Hezbollah official who survived an apparent assassination attempt last month is seen in pictures shared by Lebanese media touring openly in public after the declaration of a ceasefire. https://lnk.sk/ouop
FRANCE 🇫🇷 CZECH REPUBLIC 🇨🇿
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is immune from prosecution at the International Criminal Court, the French foreign ministry says, declaring it will not abide by arrest warrants issued by the Hague against Israelis. https://lnk.sk/mit8
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar will fly to the Czech Republic today to meet with his Czech counterpart and Prime Minister Petr Fiala, his office says. https://lnk.sk/sgs8
Sources: Times of Israel, Jerusalem Post, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Israel Realtime, Jewish Breaking News and the sources cited directly in some reports
©️ ICEJ Slovakia; peter.svec@icej.sk