Wednesday
27th Nov 2024
Dhivehi Edition
Israel Military vehicles at the boarder of Lebenon and Israel.
A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect at 7:00 am Maldivian time (4:00 am local time in Lebanon) today, raising hopes for an end to over a year of fighting across southern Lebanon and northern Israel. The agreement seeks to halt hostilities that have inflicted severe damage on towns and cities in both regions.
According to the terms of the truce, facilitated with U.S. involvement, Israeli forces will withdraw from Lebanon within 60 days. The Lebanese military is expected to take control of southern territories to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its military capabilities. U.S. President Joe Biden described the agreement as a step toward stabilizing the region.
However, the broader conflict in Gaza continues with devastating humanitarian consequences. Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 44,249 Palestinians and wounded 104,746 since the onset of the conflict on October 7, 2023. Among those killed were 13 people seeking refuge in a school in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood. The violence follows the Hamas-led attacks on Israel, which resulted in 1,139 Israeli deaths and over 200 hostages being taken.
In Lebanon, the ongoing conflict has left 3,823 dead and 15,859 wounded since the Gaza war began. These numbers reflect the extensive human toll across multiple conflict zones.
The ceasefire marks a critical attempt to de-escalate tensions in Lebanon, but the continuing violence in Gaza highlights the region's fragile state. Long-term peace remains uncertain, as regional and humanitarian crises persist.