Israel-Lebanon ceasefire agreement does not solve the underlying problem

The cessation of hostilities is always welcome news, but does the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon signal the end of the war? That is the hope of the Lebanese, who have endured two months of indiscriminate bombing by the Israeli army (resulting in nearly 4,000 deaths, 16,000 injuries — mostly civilians — 1.2 million displaced in a country of 5.4 million, and thousands of homes destroyed). It is also what the residents of northern Israel, eager to return to the homes they abandoned due to Hezbollah rocket fire (which has killed 50 civilians since October 7 of last year), wish for. However, the circumstances surrounding this ceasefire raise concerns that it may only be a temporary fix for as long as the underlying issue is unresolved: Palestine.

Neither Israel nor Hezbollah (the pro-Iranian Lebanese militia that exploits the Palestinian issue to fuel support) have reached any understanding. Both sides have reluctantly agreed to halt hostilities because the cost of continuing the war outweighs any potential benefits. Hezbollah has suffered a severe blow, both from the Israeli intelligence services infiltrating its ranks (leading to the detonation of pagers and walkie-talkies, and the assassination of key leaders) and from its abandonment by its powerful ally, Iran. The Tehran regime has not come to the aid of what was once touted as the “crown jewel” of Iran’s Middle Eastern ambitions, as it focuses on its own survival. Moreover, contrary to their previous stance, Iran has accepted the separation of the Gaza and Lebanese fronts — a decision without which the fragile government in Beirut would not have been able to accept the agreement.

The result is not a victory for Israel either. Even the relatively moderate Benny Gantz believes that they have only completed “half the job.” If Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the extremist supremacists who support him have accepted the ceasefire, it is due to the strain the Lebanese front was placing on the army, which is still focused on destroying Gaza (and supporting settlers in the West Bank). In fact, some have suggested that the ceasefire might only be a temporary, two-month pause. Time will tell.

For now, the damage inflicted on Lebanon (not only on Hezbollah and its Shia supporters) ensures that animosity and distrust towards its southern neighbor will persist for years. As we await the details and implementation of the Lebanese Army’s deployment south of the Litani River, as well as the role the previously sidelined U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) will play, we can only hope that the ceasefire allows the Lebanese to catch their breath. However, this will be of little use unless the international community takes responsibility — not only in aiding the reconstruction of Lebanon, but also in pressuring Israel to recognize the Palestinians’ right to live with dignity on their land. We are still a long way from that.

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