Here’s how Israel is repeatedly violating the Lebanon ceasefire

According to the ceasefire agreement reached between Lebanon and Israel last November, Israel was originally supposed to withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon by January 26th. However, that date has passed, and Israel has refused to withdraw, postponing the withdrawal deadline to February 18th. Simultaneously, Israel has continued sporadic bombings of targets within Lebanon, claiming its targets are Hezbollah, which has violated the ceasefire agreement, a move strongly condemned by the Lebanese side.

The presence of Israeli forces in southern Lebanon has prevented thousands of residents of border villages from returning to their homes, with anyone attempting to approach potentially being shot by Israeli forces. This conflict began on October 8th, when Lebanese Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian Hamas organization, which was under Israeli attack in the Gaza Strip. Subsequently, Israel intensified its attacks on Lebanon in September of last year, and on September 27th, killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Since October 2023, Israel has caused approximately 4,000 deaths in Lebanon. Currently, the focus is on: why is Israel still occupying southern Lebanon? What does the so-called "ceasefire" really mean? And what is Israel's ultimate goal in the region?

Although Hezbollah has ceased its attacks, Israel's military operations have not completely stopped. While the intensity of Israeli bombing is far less than before the ceasefire agreement took effect on November 27th, and the night bombings of Beirut's southern suburbs have also ceased, Israel still launches attacks from time to time, some of which even occur north of the Litani River - according to the ceasefire agreement, Hezbollah should withdraw its forces north of that river.

Israel claims that Hezbollah has also failed to comply with the terms of the ceasefire agreement. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Hezbollah has not retreated north of the Litani River, located in southern Lebanon. Katz said in January: "If this condition is not met, there will be no agreement, and Israel will be forced to take action to ensure the safe return of residents in the north to their homes." Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qasim said in a January speech that Hezbollah had complied with the ceasefire agreement, but did not explicitly state whether the organization had completely withdrawn from the south.

Lebanon has filed a complaint with the United Nations regarding Israel's violation of the ceasefire agreement. French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Israel to abide by the original ceasefire deadline and withdraw its troops, but to little avail. France and the United States were the original mediators of the agreement. According to diplomatic sources, the United States, as a staunch ally of Israel, had guaranteed that the agreement would be adhered to. But if the ceasefire agreement is violated, there are no other remedies, nor are there any suggested penalties. Israel has not been held accountable for repeatedly violating the ceasefire agreement or extending the ceasefire deadline to February 18th.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Qasim said in a January speech that the organization's patience with Israel's violation of the agreement may be running out. But in a more recent speech, he seemed to shift the responsibility of opposing Israel to the Lebanese state. Qasim said in a television address last week: "The Lebanese state has a responsibility, through sponsors and international pressure, to follow up, exert pressure, and stop this aggression and Israeli aggression as much as possible." According to the ceasefire agreement, the Lebanese army should enter southern Lebanon. Any response from Hezbollah will be limited by its own weakened position. The collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime has cut off Hezbollah's land route for receiving weapons from its main supporter, Iran. Its military capabilities also suffered a heavy blow during the two-month escalation from September to November, during which Israel invaded Lebanon. And it has lost most of its senior military leaders. For these reasons, Hezbollah seems reluctant to take any action that might give Israel a reason to intensify its attacks.