Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire holds: Has attention started shifting to Gaza?

The Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire has been holding as people in both countries start to return homes in the border area shattered by 14 months of intense fighting. The US and France brokered the crucial agreement, and it appears attention is shifting to Gaza.

The deal has put an end to the deadliest confrontation beteen Israel and and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah in years. It is rare diplomatic feat in a region racked by conflict. But Israel is still fighting the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

In the first statement by Hezbollah since the announcement of the ceasefire, the group made no direct mention of the truce and promised to continue its resistance, reported Reuters. Hezbollah said its fighters remain fully equipped to handle assaults of the Israeli military.

“The first ray of hope” in months of Middle East crisis

The Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire seeks to permanently conclude a conflict along the Israeli-Lebanese border that has killed at least 3,768 people and injured several others in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

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Global leaders have been appreciating the announcement of the ceasefire. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres described the agreement as “the first ray of hope” in months of Middle East crisis. Many people hope the truce to become permanent.

Under the ceasefire, Israeli forces can remain in Lebanon for 60 days. The Lebanese army is ensuring that the ceasefire holds long. It said that it had started deploying additional troops south of the Litani River into a region heavily bombarded by Israel.