Situation at a glance: Ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah appears to be holding

Despite an Israeli airstrike on a Hezbollah weapons depot in southern Lebanon, the ceasefire with the militia appears to be largely holding so far. Israel’s military accused Hezbollah of having violated the agreement several times since the ceasefire came into force early on Wednesday morning – while, conversely, the Lebanese army, which was not actively involved in the war and plays an important role in the implementation of the agreement, accused Israel of several violations . However, the months of intense mutual shelling between Hezbollah and Israel have stopped.

Netanyahu threatens Hezbollah

Statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu show how fragile the ceasefire is: He threatened to continue the war if the pro-Iranian Hezbollah broke the agreement. Netanyahu said in an interview on Channel 14 that he had instructed the army to prepare for an “intense war” in this eventuality. The ceasefire could be short-lived, the prime minister warned. He left it open what exactly he meant by a violation of the agreement.

Lebanon’s army accused Israel of repeated attacks on Lebanese territory with “various weapons.” The Israeli military announced on Thursday that the air force had attacked a Hezbollah weapons depot because of “terrorist activity.” According to the media, it was the first airstrike since the ceasefire came into force. According to the Israeli military, soldiers were also deployed to prevent further Hezbollah members from advancing into southern Lebanon. Despite the blame, neither of the two warring parties – neither Israel nor the Hezbollah militia – seems interested in an immediate return to fighting, wrote the New York Times.

EU: Ceasefire is crucial

The European Union called on Israel and Hezbollah to respect the ceasefire. This is crucial to ensure the safety of people in both Lebanon and Israel and so that displaced people on both sides of the border can return to their homes, said Foreign Affairs Representative Josep Borrell on behalf of the EU. The sovereignty of the two states must be fully respected and cross-border attacks must stop.

Meanwhile, Israel lifted restrictions on gatherings in large parts of the country. Because of Hezbollah’s shelling, the responsible home front command has limited the number of participants at indoor and outdoor meetings in many places in recent months. However, in areas near the border with Lebanon in northern Israel, restrictions still apply. Schools there also remain closed.

The agreement on a ceasefire, which was painstakingly negotiated after more than a year of war, stipulates, among other things, that Hezbollah withdraws behind the Litani River, about 30 kilometers north of the Israeli-Lebanese border, in accordance with a UN resolution. Israel’s ground troops are to gradually withdraw from Lebanon within 60 days. According to its own statements, the army is currently still deployed in the south of the neighboring country to take action against violations of the ceasefire agreement.

“We are now entering a new phase in which the same determination that led us to this agreement will also be applied to enforcement,” Israeli Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi said at a briefing, according to the military.

Israel’s army chief: Resolutely enforce ceasefire

“We know full well that Hezbollah entered into this agreement from a position of necessity and weakness,” Halevi said. Any deviation from the ceasefire agreement would be responded to with fire, he warned. In addition to an end to the fighting, the agreement also provides for an international commission to monitor violations. The group, led by the USA and France, also includes Lebanon, Israel and the UN peacekeeping force Unifil stationed in Lebanon.

Houthi militia wants to continue attacking Israel

The Houthi militia in Yemen, which like Hezbollah is also allied with Iran, is threatening Israel with further attacks regardless of the ceasefire in Lebanon. The militia is continuing the fight in “all areas,” including with “military operations,” said leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi. “It is important to build on the successes on the Lebanese front and move towards further escalation, particularly from Iraq and Yemen.” Support for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has been waging war against the Islamist organization since the Hamas attack, continues.

The Houthis control large areas, especially in Yemen, and after the Gaza war broke out in October 2023, they began to shell ships with alleged ties to Israel. The British data project ACLED has since counted almost 300 militia attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and on Israel. Dozens of ships have been attacked since then, and traffic on the important maritime trade route via the Suez Canal has been massively disrupted.

Israel continues to allow cooperation with Palestinian banks

Meanwhile, Israel reportedly continues to allow business relationships between Israeli and Palestinian banks. Israel’s security cabinet voted to extend an exemption allowing this, Israeli media reported unanimously. The regulation now applies until November 30, 2025.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and her British and French colleagues called for continued cooperation between Israeli and Palestinian financial institutions in a statement. The Western allies warned that if the bank ties were cut, there would be a risk of “significant economic turmoil in the West Bank,” which in turn would endanger the security of Israel and the region as a whole. The Palestinian Authority (PA) has taken significant steps to address the risk of terrorist financing, the statement said.

In the Palestinian territories, people pay in Israeli shekels. Palestinian banks rely on Israeli financial institutions to receive currency. Otherwise, Palestinians would no longer be able to pay for services from Israel, including electricity, among other things. In addition, tax money that Israel collects for the PA would no longer flow to the authority.