UK Supports Ceasefire Agreement Between Israel and Hezbollah

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed approval for the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. In a post on X, he announced the agreement.

Starmer remarked that the ceasefire was 'long overdue' and would offer some relief to the civilians in Lebanon and Northern Israel, who have endured severe hardships over the past few months of intense conflict and violence.

Starmer, in his statement, urged for the agreement to evolve into a "lasting political solution in Lebanon, grounded in Security Council Resolution 1701," enabling civilians to permanently return to their homes and allowing communities on both sides of the border to rebuild.

He emphasized that the UK and its allies would remain at the forefront of efforts to end the recurring cycle of violence and strive for long-term, sustainable peace in the Middle East.

In his statement, he highlighted the situation in Gaza, calling for immediate progress toward a ceasefire agreement, the release of all hostages, and the lifting of restrictions on urgently needed humanitarian aid.

Keir Starmer's statement came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden, in separate speeches, revealed that Israel and Hezbollah had reached a ceasefire agreement on Tuesday (local time), following months of clashes and thousands of casualties.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, emphasized that the "duration" of the ceasefire will depend on "events in Lebanon."

Netanyahu stated, "With the full understanding of the United States, we retain complete freedom to take military action. If Hezbollah breaches the agreement and attempts to arm itself, we will strike. If it attempts to rebuild terrorist infrastructure near the border, we will strike. If it launches a rocket, digs a tunnel, or brings in a truck with rockets, we will strike."

Israel and Lebanon have been involved in an ongoing conflict since October 8 of last year, when Hezbollah launched an attack on Israeli-controlled territory in support of Hamas and the Palestinian people in Gaza, according to CNN.

This incident triggered a series of reciprocal border attacks, which ultimately led to a large-scale military offensive by Israel in mid-September.

The conflict has witnessed an Israeli ground invasion, leading to the deaths of several Hezbollah leaders, including one of its founders, Hassan Nasrallah, and thousands of injuries from an attack involving detonating pagers. The situation remains tense, with ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire.