A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah is reportedly set to be agreed on soon—here is everything we know about it so far.
Multiple Israeli and American news outlets have reported that an agreement is near, with Israel's Ambassador to Washington Michael Herzog telling Israeli Army Radio on Monday that a deal could be reached "within days."
The Israeli Security Cabinet is expected to approve an agreement on Tuesday, according to a U.S. official quoted by Axios.
"We think we have a deal. We are on the goal line but we haven't passed it yet. The Israeli cabinet needs to approve the deal on Tuesday and something can always go wrong until then," they said.
Newsweek has contacted defense departments in the U.S. and Israel for comment.
What Will Israel's Deal With Hezbollah Look Like?
The proposal currently being discussed includes a two-month ceasefire in which Israel would withdraw its forces from Lebanon, according to The Associated Press.
Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border, which will then be patrolled by Lebanese army troops with U.N. peacekeeping troops. Hezbollah would also move its heavy weapons north of the Litani River.
An international committee would be formed to observe the ceasefire and U.N. Security Council resolution 1701. The resolution was supposed to come into force in 2006, at the end of a monthlong war between Israel and Hezbollah, but it was never fully implemented.
The U.S. has reportedly agreed to give Israel written assurances of its support for Israel to use military action in the event of imminent threats from Lebanese territory, Axios reported. This would include Hezbollah reestablishing a military presence on the border.
In theory, Israel would only take action if the Lebanese military did not deal with Hezbollah and only after consulting with the U.S.
What Does France Have to Do With the Ceasefire Negotiations?
There has been tension over the last three days after the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant.
Things stalled when France, which Lebanon wants to be part of negotiations given the two countries' close colonial relationship, said it would be implementing the court's ruling.
President Joe Biden reportedly spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday, arguing that France could not mediate and simultaneously pledge to arrest one of the parties in that deal, Axios reported.
On Monday an official familiar with the talks, quoted by the AP and Axios, said France had smoothed things over and would be part of the agreement.
Newsweek has contacted the French Foreign Ministry for comment.
Latest Death Tolls for Israel-Hezbollah War
Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire almost every single day since the day after Hamas launched its October 7 attacks last year.
More than 3,500 people in Lebanon have been killed, many of which are civilians, the AP reported. In Israel, more than 70 have been killed, more than 40 of which are civilians.
The Israeli government says its goal is to return the tens of thousands of people it has evacuated from the north as a result of the fighting with Hezbollah. Meanwhile, in Lebanon, a quarter of the population has been displaced.
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