Europe 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 effect early Wednesday morning - while conversely the Lebanese army, which is not actively involved in the war itself and plays an important role in implementing the agreement, accused Israel of several violations. However, the months of intense mutual shelling between Hezbollah and Israel have ceased.

Netanyahu threatens Hezbollah

Statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu show just how fragile the ceasefire is: he threatened to continue the war if the pro-Iranian Hezbollah broke the agreement. He had instructed the army to prepare for an "intensive war" in this case, Netanyahu said in an interview on Channel 14. The ceasefire could be short-lived, the Prime Minister warned. He left 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 itself announced on Thursday that the air force had attacked a Hezbollah weapons depot due to "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 towards southern Lebanon. Despite the recriminations, neither of the warring parties - neither Israel nor the Hezbollah militia - appear to be interested in an immediate return to the fighting, wrote the New York Times.

EU: ceasefire is crucial

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

Meanwhile, Israel lifted restrictions on gatherings in large parts of the country. Due to Hezbollah shelling, the responsible Home Front Command had limited the number of participants at indoor and outdoor meetings in many places in recent months. However, restrictions are still in place in areas near the border with Lebanon in northern Israel. Schools there also remain closed.

The agreement on a ceasefire, which was painstakingly negotiated after more than a year of war, provides, among other things, for Hezbollah to withdraw behind the Litani River around 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. However, the army says it 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 its enforcement," said Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi at a briefing, according to military sources.

Israeli army chief: resolutely enforcing the ceasefire

"We know very well that Hezbollah concluded this agreement from a position of necessity and weakness," said Halevi. Any deviation from the ceasefire agreement would be met 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 despite the ceasefire in Lebanon. The militia is continuing the fight in "all areas", including with "military operations", said leader Abdel-Malik al-Huthi. "It is important to build on the successes on the Lebanese front and move towards further escalation, especially 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, particularly in Yemen, and began firing on ships with alleged links to Israel after the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023. The British data project ACLED has since counted almost 300 attacks by the militia on shipping in the Red Sea and on Israel. Dozens of ships have been attacked since then and traffic on the important sea trade route via the Suez Canal has been severely disrupted.

Israel continues to allow cooperation with Palestinian banks

Meanwhile, Israel is reportedly continuing to allow business relations between Israeli and Palestinian banks. The Israeli security cabinet voted in favor of extending an exemption that allows this, according to Israeli media reports. The regulation will now apply until November 30, 2025.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and her British and French colleagues had called in a statement for Israeli and Palestinian financial institutions to continue to be allowed to work together. The Western allies warned that "considerable economic turbulence in the West Bank" would be imminent if banking links were cut, which in turn would jeopardize the security of Israel and the region as a whole. The Palestinian Authority (PA) has taken significant steps to counter the risk of terrorist financing, the statement said.

In the Palestinian territories, people pay with Israeli shekels. Palestinian banks are dependent on Israeli financial institutions in order to receive the currency. Otherwise, Palestinians would no longer be able to settle their payments for services from Israel, including electricity supplies. In addition, tax money that Israel collects for the PA would no longer flow to the authority.

SDA