Fragile truce

The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, brokered by the US and France, marks a critical juncture in the latest conflict that has left thousands dead and Lebanon's infrastructure in ruins. The truce, already in effect since 4am on Wednesday, holds the promise of ending hostilities in southern Lebanon, but the path to lasting peace remains precarious. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's government, despite internal opposition, approved the ceasefire, emphasising Israel's intent to maintain military freedom. Yet, even as diplomatic overtures materialised, Israeli airstrikes pounded Beirut and other regions, leaving scores dead and injured.

The agreement mandates the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon and the deployment of 5,000 Lebanese soldiers along the border south of the Litani River. Hezbollah, in turn, is required to cease its armed presence in the area. While these terms suggest a framework for stability, the underlying tensions remain unresolved. Hezbollah's rocket fire into Israel and Israel's airstrikes in Lebanon post truce reflect a fragile ceasefire, vulnerable to collapse at any provocation. Lebanon's Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib has expressed readiness to deploy troops and rebuild the war-torn south, but the country faces immense challenges. Decimated infrastructure and brewing humanitarian crises threaten to undermine the ceasefire's implementation. The truce offers a glimmer of hope and much needed relief, and it must therefore be treated as a path towards a comprehensive solution. Israel must recognise that continued violence serves no one's interests and that diplomacy, however fraught, remains the only viable path forward.

As the world watches Lebanon navigate these perilous waters, only time will tell if this ceasefire is a stepping-stone toward peace, or merely a pause in an ongoing cycle of violence. The coming days will reveal whether the leaders involved can transform this fragile truce into a lasting resolution.