The United States, which brokered the initial truce, said in a statement that “the cease-fire agreement between Lebanon and Israel will remain in effect until February 18, 2025,” citing Israel’s failure to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon before the deadline set by the agreement.
The statement added that Lebanon, Israel and the US will soon begin negotiations on the return of Lebanese prisoners held in Israeli prisons from October 7, 2023.
Interim Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the decision to extend the ceasefire was made “after consultations with President Joseph Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri regarding the latest developments in the south, and after reviewing talks with the US mediator”.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s foreign ministry accused Israel of failing to fulfill its obligations, particularly with regard to withdrawing from Lebanese territory.
He also condemned “deliberate Israeli attacks on Lebanese civilians trying to return to their occupied villages”.
On Sunday, 22 people, including a Lebanese soldier, were killed and 124 wounded in Israeli shooting while hundreds of Lebanese civilians were trying to enter southern villages still under Israeli occupation, the Lebanese Ministry of Health announced.
The Foreign Ministry called on international sponsors of the ceasefire and other parties to condemn Israeli attacks on civilians and to “put pressure on Israel to fulfill its obligations under the agreement”.
The ceasefire agreement, which took effect on November 27, 2024, requires Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territory within 60 days and the Lebanese army to take over security along the border and in southern Lebanon.
Also on Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz pledged that Israel would continue to strictly enforce the ceasefire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon, but warned that “anyone who breaks the rules or threatens Israeli forces will pay the full price.”
Israel started a multi-front war with Hamas and Hezbollah in October 2023 and reached a ceasefire between the two sides in late January of this year and in November of last year, Xinhua reports.
(Vijesti.ba / FENA)
