Israel on Friday launched another strike on Beirut and US President-elect Donald Trump reportedly endorsed a plan to broker a ceasefire in Lebanon, expressing hope for its implementation before his inauguration. A senior member of the Palestinian group Hamas also emphasised that it was ready for a ceasefire agreement and the release of Israeli hostages as part of a “serious” prisoner swap.
Strike hits south Beirut suburbs after Israeli evacuation call
The strike hit Beirut’s southern suburbs after the Israeli military appealed to residents in the area to evacuate, local TV channels reported on Friday, showing footage of fires and smoke.
In an evacuation order posted on website X by Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee, residents living “near Hezbollah-related facilities and interests” were warned of impending strikes in the Ghobeiry area.
Trump supports Lebanon ceasefire plan amid US-Israel talks
US President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly endorsed a plan to broker a ceasefire in Lebanon, expressing hope for its implementation before his inauguration.
The media outlined the gist of the proposal, which calls for Hezbollah to move its forces and weapons north of the Litani River. The Lebanese army and UNIFIL would see to it that Hezbollah’s return to southern Lebanon is prevented. However, the stumbling block remains Israel’s demand for the right to enforce the ceasefire if UN and Lebanese forces fail.
According to Axios, both the US and Israel agree to the terms of the ceasefire, but the US must secure Lebanon’s approval.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar told Channel 14:
“Israel will not allow Hezbollah to rebuild its strength. Our goal is to disarm Hezbollah south of the Litani River and prevent its rearmament.”
The diplomatic source added that the US would lead the monitoring mechanism, providing Israel with legitimacy and support to take action against Hezbollah violations.
France and Britain are reportedly ready to help maintain the ceasefire.
On Thursday in Beirut, US Ambassador Lisa Anne Johnson handed a draft ceasefire proposal to Lebanon’s parliament speaker Nabih Berri, two political sources told Reuters. The document, drafted weeks ago, asks for Lebanon’s views. One source said, noting that key details remain undisclosed:
“The draft aims to gather Lebanese input.”
The ceasefire framework is in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, adopted in 2006 to end hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel has long criticised its incomplete implementation, citing Hezbollah’s armed presence near the border. Lebanon, in turn, accuses Israel of regular violations of its airspace.
A source familiar with the talks said Lebanon is seeking full implementation of Resolution 1701 but disputes some of the conditions, including US stipulations on ceasefire violations.
Lebanese officials also reject unilateral Israeli action. One source said on Thursday:
“The idea of Israel acting whenever it chooses is unacceptable.”
Despite the progress made, no date has yet been set for the visit of US mediator Amos Hochstein to Beirut. According to media reports, US envoy Amos Hochstein will travel only after a preliminary agreement is reached.
Hamas official says group ready for immediate ceasefire deal
A senior member of the Palestinian Hamas group has stressed that it is ready for a cease-fire deal and the release of Israeli hostages as part of a “serious” prisoner exchange.
Basem Naim, a Palestinian doctor, politician and one of Hamas’ politburo leaders, said the latest “clearly defined, concluded deal” took place on July 2. He said in an interview with Sky News that was aired on Thursday:
“It was discussed in all details, and I think we were near to a ceasefire… which can end this war, offer a permanent ceasefire and total withdrawal and prisoner exchange.”
Naim said that “unfortunately, (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu chose to go the other way,” and recalled that Israel has since “carried out at least two or three major massacres” in Khan Younis and Gaza City.
Referring to the assassination of Hamas politburo head Ismail Haniyeh in July, he noted that they had not received “any serious offers” after that.
Asked whether Hamas’ cross-border attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 was a “massive catastrophe” for the Palestinian people, Naim said Palestinians have suffered under Israeli occupation for 76 years.
“Between 2002-2023, 20,000 Palestinians were killed. Gazans have been suffocating from a siege for more than 17 years,” said Naim, also pointing to controversial statements by the Israeli side publicly declaring their plans “to annex the West Bank, to Judaize Jerusalem, to expel the Palestinians.”
Defining the October 7 attacks as an “act of defence,” he said the Palestinian people face daily that Israel denies their right to exist.
Asked whether Hamas’ actions provoked an escalation of tensions, Naim said:
“It is exactly as if you are accusing the victims of the crimes of the aggressor.”
Referring to the Israeli hostages, he noted that Hamas has “clearly and publicly stated” that it is ready to release them.
However, he recalled that tens of thousands of Palestinians are being held in Israeli prisons.
“We are ready to release all these captured Israelis if they are ready to release our children, women, innocent thousands of minors who are still in Israeli jails. We are ready immediately for a cease-fire to end this war, for a serious prisoner exchange to get our brothers and sisters free.”
Asked what message Hamas had for US President-elect Donald Trump, Naim said:
“We are people who are looking for a better future. We are looking to secure a dignified, prosperous future for our children. Therefore, we are calling on any president, including Donald Trump and his administration, to take the needed steps to stop this aggression, to stop this war immediately. We are ready for a ceasefire deal.”
Israel has continued its devastating offensive on Gaza since a cross-border Hamas attack on October 7 last year. The offensive has killed more than 43,700 people and rendered the enclave virtually uninhabitable.
Israel estimates that more than 100 hostages are still being held by Palestinian factions in Gaza since the October 7 attack.
The Israeli offensive has displaced almost the entire population of the territory amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine. Israel also faces a genocide case in the International Court of Justice for its deadly war in Gaza.
