Rapid and dramatic are the developments in , just 24 hours after the signing between and , under the auspices of . The framework agreement, instead of bringing calm, has triggered a domino of fierce reactions on both sides of the border, highlighting the deep divide within the two countries.
Meanwhile, tensions on the ground remain high as Israel launched a new drone strike in southern Lebanon, proving that the fragile truce is hanging by a thread.
Lebanon signed framework agreement legitimizing indefinite Israeli occupation. Israel violated ceasefire within 24 hours with airstrikes on Nabatieh. Hezbollah rejected it as “humiliating surrender of sovereignty.”
Hundreds protested. Israeli officials have long desired Lebanese…
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen)
Netanyahu: “Historic agreement and a blow to Iran”
The Israeli prime minister, in a televised press briefing on Saturday, enthusiastically hailed the agreement, calling it a huge diplomatic and military success.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a press conference this evening and made the following remarks:
“Dear citizens of Israel, yesterday before the start of the Sabbath, we achieved a historic accomplishment for the State of Israel. Following direct negotiations between Israel…— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM)
“We reached a historic agreement on the State of Israel, after direct negotiations with Lebanon. This is a strong blow that we have dealt to Iran and Hezbollah,” said Benjamin Netanyahu.
He even presented a map of two “pilot zones”, which Israel agreed to eventually hand over to the Lebanese army. One of them is completely outside the area occupied by Israeli troops, while the second is located on the borders of the expanded occupation zone announced by Tel Aviv last week.
Internal “guerrilla” in Israel: “Big mistake” says Ben-Gvir
However, the deal is already causing tremors in Israel’s government camp. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir launched a scathing attack, calling the deal a “big mistake” and making it clear he had no confidence in Beirut.
“Sure, we currently remain in most of Lebanese territory, but the Lebanese state is not going to disarm Hezbollah,” he wrote on his Telegram channel. Ben-Gvir meaningfully added that since the Lebanese government includes Hezbollah ministers, it is impossible to entrust it with confiscating the organization’s weapons, stressing that “only Israeli soldiers will destroy them.”
Qasem “war” with Beirut and Shia anger
On the other side, Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem rejected the deal outright, calling it “null and void” and a “capitulation” to Israel. He accused the Lebanese government of unilateral concessions, which undermine national sovereignty and made it clear that this is a “red line”. “We did not leave the battlefield in the most difficult conditions, and we will not do so now either,” he said, concluding that the only basis for ending the conflict should be the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US signed earlier this month, which guarantees Lebanon’s territorial integrity, and not the “Washington deal.”
Beirut right now!
People and motorcycle groups have occupied the roads in Beirut in protest of the Lebanese authorities signing and agreement with Israeli enemy that “legalized ” their occupation of South Lebanon and gave legal immunity to Netanyahu regarding his warcrimes.— Hadi Hoteit | Hadi Hoteit (@HadiHtt)
Anger over the deal went beyond the narrow confines of Hezbollah and spread to the wider Shia element, with parliament speaker Nabih Berri’s Amal movement denouncing it as heavily pro-Israel. Hundreds of thousands of displaced Shiites remain far from their homes, sparking mass protests in the streets of Lebanon against the signing.
Intervention of the Lebanese army to prevent chaos
Faced with the risk of a widespread internal conflict, after protests by supporters of Hezbollah, the Lebanese army intervened forcefully, vowing to protect peace in the country.
“The command of the army will not tolerate any breach of security or any threat to peace in the country, through actions with unforeseeable consequences, road blockades or attacks on public or private property,” the army clarified in a stern statement.
Another deadly drone strike, despite the agreement
The climate of war readiness was confirmed in the bloodiest way on Saturday. Lebanon’s state news agency reported that an Israeli drone struck the Nabatieh al-Fawqa area, an area outside the official security zone announced by Israel.
The Israeli military confirmed the strike to Reuters, explaining that it acted via drone as there were no ground forces in the area, targeting a person who “posed a threat”, but did not provide further details.
