‘Most details are agreed upon’ – Lebanon ceasefire could be signed ‘within days’

White House envoy Amos Hochstein is set to meet with Israeli officials on Thursday, in an effort to hammer out the last details of a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon that Israeli officials said could be signed “within days.”

Hochstein arrived in Israel yesterday evening after spending two days in Lebanon for intense negotiations. He said there were “very constructive talks,” adding an agreement “is now within our grasp.”

Hochstein is set to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer on Thursday to present the latest Lebanese concerns and try to bridge remaining gaps.

“If they reach conclusions on the disputed clauses - it is possible to sign within days,” an Israeli official told Channel 13 News. The Arabic Sky News channel cited sources saying “about 80% of the conditions for the agreement have already been agreed upon.”

However, a senior Israeli official cautioned that “what remains open is very sensitive and could still overturn the agreement.”

Speaking with Channel 12 News, he highlighted the Israeli demand for freedom of action in the case that the agreement is violated as the main remaining obstacle.

So far, the solution seems to be that the U.S. will attach to the agreement a unilateral letter of commitment to that effect, but Israel is seeking additional backing from other Western countries.

According to a report by Channel 12, the agreement will begin with a 60-day period, during which the IDF will gradually withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon, while the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and UNIFIL will deploy in their stead.

Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly will present the agreement not as “the end of the war” but as a “ceasefire,” declaring that “quiet will be answered by quiet.”

Implementation of the agreement will be supervised by an international committee, with a mixed team of inspectors including representatives from Western powers (the U.S., Great Britain and France) alongside representatives from moderate Arab countries (Jordan, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates).

Despite the optimism from Hochstein, Lebanese sources suggested Hezbollah and Iran are preparing for negotiations to continue for some additional time.

New Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem gave another speech on Thursday, confirming the terror group transmitted its comments on the draft agreement to Hochstein.

Qassem stressed that Hezbollah will not cease fire during the negotiations, and alleged that “Netanyahu wants the entire Middle East, not just Gaza and Palestine.”

According to the Lebanese al-Akhbar newspaper, which is affiliated with Hezbollah, Lebanon demanded that a precise date for a complete, rapid and simultaneous withdrawal of IDF forces from all Lebanese territory would be announced immediately upon the signing of the ceasefire.

This should be accompanied by the release of captive Hezbollah terrorists by Israel, as well as handing over the bodies of killed fighters. According to the report, during the talks with Hochstein, Hezbollah threatened to “do what it must” to release the captives and bodies, which would prevent a ceasefire.