International reactions continued on Wednesday as long-displaced residents of southern Lebanon began their return home after the ceasefire deal between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group. Thousands of displaced people poured back into the Lebanese city of Tyre, including the Lebanese Army, local reports say. Their return followed the ceasefire agreement that came into effect on Wednesday, potentially ending more than a year of cross-border fighting in southern Lebanon. The US and France-brokered deal, approved by Israel late on Tuesday, calls for an initial two-month halt to fighting and requires Hezbollah to end its armed presence in southern Lebanon. On the other hand, Israeli troops are obliged to return to their side of the border. On Wednesday, France underlined its role in the agreement with foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot, saying the agreement wouldn't have been possible without Paris' special relationship with Lebanon. "It is true that the United States has a privileged relationship with Israel. But with Lebanon, it's France that has very old ties, very close ties," said Jean-Noel Barrot. "It would not have been possible to envisage a ceasefire in Lebanon without France being involved on the front line," he added. In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was "long overdue". Speaking at the British Parliament's House of Commons, Starmer said the ceasefire demonstrates that "diplomacy can succeed even in the most challenging of circumstances." "We must seize this opportunity to build trust, de-escalate tensions, and push for a wider ceasefire," Starmer added. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning hailed the progress and called on parties to further work concertedly to "promote a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible." For many across the Middle East, the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire came as a relief — the first major sign of progress in the region since war began more than a year ago. US President Joe Biden has said he will "make another push" to reach a ceasefire in Gaza. Biden wrote on X that the push will see to the release of hostages and an end to the war without Hamas in power." The ceasefire agreement offers both sides — Israel and Hezbollah — an escape from hostilities that have driven more than 1.2 million Lebanese and 50,000 Israelis from their homes. According to Lebanese officials, more than 3,700 people have been killed by Israel's intense bombing campaign, many of them civilians. On the Israeli side, over 130 people have been killed, local reports say. While the Israel-Hezbollah deal could significantly calm the tensions that have inflamed the region, there are concerns over the deal's ability to resolve the much deadlier war that has raged in Gaza since the Hamas attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that killed 1,200 people. Hezbollah, which began firing scores of rockets into Israel the following day in support of Hamas, previously said it would keep fighting until there was a stop to the war in Gaza. With the new ceasefire, it has backed away from that pledge, in effect leaving Hamas isolated and fighting a war alone. Israel has said it will attack if Hezbollah breaks the ceasefire agreement. "We will respond forcefully to any violation with the US' full understanding," Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer said. "If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to again rearm itself, we will defend ourselves." For now, calm is expected to return to southern Lebanon, which has been plagued by intense fighting and displacement of residents after the war escalated in September, when Israel began its massive airstrikes and deployed its troops into the region. — Euronews
