Truce in the Middle East: 60-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

Since the early hours of this morning, the Middle East has been experiencing a lull in hostilities, with the start of a 60-day truce between Israel and Hezbollah. At 3 a.m. Italian time, 4 a.m. in Lebanon, the ceasefire officially went into effect, bringing brief relief to a region torn apart by 13 months of intense fighting and devastating destruction.

Celebrations in Lebanon

In Beirut, the truce was greeted with jubilant demonstrations. During the night and early morning, Lebanese citizens filled the streets, especially in the southern suburbs of the capital, one of the areas most affected by Israeli bombing. The celebrations were marked by the presence of flags, photographs of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and the symbolic “V” gesture for victory. However, the memory of the destruction is still vivid: just two months ago, Nasrallah lost his life in an attack that shook the whole of Lebanon.

The dilemma of the displaced

As people try to celebrate a return to peace, thousands of displaced people are attempting to return to their villages in southern Lebanon, the area most devastated by the fighting. However, the area is still occupied by Israeli forces, who have issued clear orders against returns. In a statement, the Israeli army reiterated: “It is forbidden to travel to areas for which IDF troops have requested evacuation… For your own safety, refrain from travel in this area.” Despite the restrictions, the roads are already filled with cars of civilians determined to return, even in front of houses reduced to rubble.

Sporadic clashes and local tensions

The situation remains tense. In the village of Kafr Kila, Israeli artillery opened fire to prevent civilians from entering, the Lebanese Ministry of Information reports. The village, almost completely razed to the ground, is a symbol of the devastation suffered by communities along the border.

The Ceasefire: Between Hopes and Warnings

The truce agreement was the result of a delicate international negotiation led by the United States and France, which called it a diplomatic success. Joe Biden, in a speech from the White House, announced the truce, stressing: "Hezbollah will no longer be allowed to threaten Israel's security." He also ruled out a direct intervention by American troops in southern Lebanon, while leaving open the possibility of the presence of American observers.

The Israeli government, for its part, has adopted a “zero tolerance” stance toward any violations of the truce. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in his evening speech, warned that Israel would resume attacks if Hezbollah rearmed, stressing that the organization had been “set back decades.”

The terms of the agreement

The agreement calls for the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon within 60 days and the deployment of the Lebanese regular army in the region, a traditional stronghold of Hezbollah. Beirut is ready to deploy at least 5.000 soldiers to ensure security and prevent a return of armed militias. However, the ceasefire monitoring mechanism could mark a significant change. The United States could take on an observer role, reducing that of UNIFIL, the international mission of the United Nations.

The Unknown of Gaza and the Future of the Truce

While the agreement represents a step forward, there remains silence on hostilities in the Gaza Strip. Joe Biden has called a truce “urgent” in the southern region as well, where civilians are facing a devastating humanitarian crisis. However, Israel has made the ceasefire in the area conditional on the release of hostages held by Hamas.

The agreement is fragile, and its actual duration will depend on developments on the ground. Netanyahu's words and the tense situation on the northern border show that, while the guns are silent for now, the conflict remains a latent threat. For the civilian population, the next 60 days represent a rare opportunity to breathe after more than a year of fear and destruction.