New Hezbollah chief, Lebanese Prime Minister indicate possible ceasefire with Israel before US elections
In a move that could end the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Lebanon, the country's Prime Minister Najib Mikati has said that a ceasefire could be established between Israel and Hezbollah within days. Mikati told Lebanese broadcaster Al-Jadeed that in his conversation with US envoy Amos Hochstein, the possibility of a ceasefire before US elections on 5 November was discussed.
Possible ceasefire before US election?
"The call today with Hochstein suggested to me that perhaps we could reach a ceasefire in the coming days, before the fifth of November," he said.
"We are doing everything we can, and we should remain optimistic that in the coming hours or days, we will have a ceasefire," he added.
According to Mikati, the ceasefire would be linked to the implementation of the United Nations resolution that ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Mikati also said that the Lebanese Shia military group Hezbollah is no longer linking a ceasefire in Lebanon to a truce in Gaza.
What new?Hezbollah chief said about ceasefire?
Earlier, in his first address, newly-appointed Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said that the armed group would agree to a ceasefire within certain parameters if Israel wanted to stop the war.
"If the Israelis decide that they want to stop the aggression, we say we accept, but under the conditions that we see as appropriate and suitable," he said, while adding that Hezbollah is willing to hold out in its war if required.
Ceasefire deal document leaked?
Amid the talks of a possible ceasefire, Israel's public broadcaster Kan, on Wednesday, published what it said was a draft agreement providing for an initial 60-day truce.
The document, which was a leaked proposal written by Washington, said Israel would withdraw its forces from Lebanon within the first week of the 60-day ceasefire.
It also calls for the Lebanese army to control Hezbollah by seizing its weapons and dismantling its infrastructure.
Why Hezbollah may agree to ceasefire?
Hezbollah, the largest non-state military in the world, is in a much weaker position, both in terms of leadership and battle capabilities, compared to a year ago when it started launching rockets and missiles at Israel in support of another Iran-backed militant group, Hamas.
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