A CEASEFIRE between Israel and Hezbollah has appeared to hold on its first day as thousands of displaced people set out to return to their homes in southern Lebanon despite Israel’s military announcing restrictions on movement in the area.
Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said on X on Wednesday that residents would be barred from travelling south of the Litani River, about 30km (20 miles) from the Israeli border, from 5pm (15:00 GMT) until 7am (05:00 GMT) on Thursday.
He said displaced residents would not be allowed to return to villages the army had ordered them to leave as Israeli forces were still present in the area.
The ceasefire, which was brokered by the United States and came into effect on Wednesday morning, gives Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters 60 days to withdraw from southern Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he instructed the military not to allow residents back into the Lebanese villages near the Israel-Lebanon border.
Lebanon’s army, which has been given the responsibility of ensuring the ceasefire lasts and will take control of southern Lebanon as Israel gradually withdraws its forces, said it has begun deploying additional troops south of the Litani.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli military Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said Israel’s enforcement of the ceasefire would be determined by whether Hezbollah keeps to the agreement.
“Hezbollah operatives who approach our troops, the border area and the villages within the area we have marked will be struck. … We are preparing, getting ready for the possibility that this [ceasefire] approach won’t succeed,” he said.
Israel’s genocide in Gaza has killed at least 44,282 Palestinians and wounded 104,880 others since October 7, 2023. At least 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks that day, and more than 200 were taken captive.
In Lebanon, at least 3,823 people have been killed and 15,859 wounded in Israeli attacks since the war on Gaza began.
