Live: Thousands return home as Lebanon ceasefire takes hold

The Israeli military has said it arrested four people who they claimed had approached army positions in southern Lebanon on the first day of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire.

Earlier the army said it had fired on several vehicles which approached its positions in southern Lebanon.

The Israeli army's Arabic language spokesperson on Wednesday warned southern Lebanon residents against moving south of the Litani River between 5pm (3pm GMT) and 7am (5am GMT), noting that Israeli forces were still present in the area.

Reporting by Reuters

Lebanese MP Hassan Fadlallah has said that Hezbollah is cooperating with the Lebanese state over bolstering the army's presence in the south, saying that the group has "no visible weapons or bases," AFP news agency is reporting. 

According to the ceasefire agreement between the group and Israel which was implemented this morning, the Lebanese army can be the only armed presence in southern Lebanon.

The Lebanese army is preparing to resume its authority, along with UNIFIL, in the South Litani region.

It said in a statement that it has begun boosting its numbers in the region.

"The concerned military units are moving from several areas to the South Litani region, where they will be stationed in the locations designated for them,” the statement read.

It also instructed civilians returning to their homes in the south “to respond to the directives of the military units and not to approach the areas where Israeli enemy forces are present, for their safety, especially since they may be subject to gunfire from enemy forces”.

Female Palestinian detainees held at the Israeli Damon Prison are facing increasingly brutal treatment and harsh conditions, the Palestinian Prisoners Commission revealed today.

Following a visit by the commission's laywer, it said in a statement that the prison administration is continuing to refuse detainees winter clothing and blankets amid increasingly wintry weather conditions.

According to the statement, detainees are only permitted one winter coat, and only very basic hygiene and personal care supplies.

It added that prison guards regularly enter cells without regard for the detainees' privacy, using tear gas in some instances. Some detainees also reported that the prison's deputy director had physically assaulted them.

Moreover, the commission found that women were deterred from seeking medical treatment at the prison clinic, as they often face interrogation during their visits.

It added that plastic barriers had been placed over the doors of the women's cells to prevent them from communicating with each other.

Twelve Palestinians, including women and children, have been killed in an Israeli attack on a school in central Gaza City, Wafa news agency is reporting, citing medical sources.

The sources said that Israeli warplanes targeted al-Tabin school in the city's al-Daraj neighborhood.

The latest deaths bring the toll of Palestinians killed in Gaza to 44,282, with 33 killed in the last 24 hours according to the enclave's health ministry.

Tehran reserves the right to react to last month's air strikes on Iran, but it also considers other developments in the region such as the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday in Lisbon.

He told reporters Iran welcomed Tuesday's agreement and hoped it could lead to a permanent ceasefire.

Israel struck targets in Iran on 26 October in retaliation for Iran's 1 October missile barrage against Israel.

Reporting by Reuters

US President Joe Biden said Washington will make another push to secure a ceasefire in Gaza in the coming days, mentioning Turkey as a mediator alongside Egypt and Qatar. 

In a post on social media platform X, Biden said the effort will aim to release Israeli captives and end the war "without Hamas in power".

Over the coming days, the United States will make another push with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Israel, and others to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza with the hostages released and an end to the war without Hamas in power.

— President Biden (@POTUS) November 27, 2024

Provisions for immunity from prosecution at the International Criminal Court apply to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the French foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the ministry reaffirmed its commitment to international justice after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, but also said that the Israeli leader was covered by immunity rules that apply to states which are not a party to the ICC. Israeli is not an ICC member.

Reporting by AFP

Hamas released a statement praising Hezbollah for supporting Gaza and welcoming the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, which it said represented a significant blow to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ambitions to "reshape" the Middle East. 

"Hamas greatly values the steadfastness and sacrifices of the Lebanese people, who have shown unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people in the face of the Zionist occupation and its brutal aggression," the statement read.

The Palestinian movement emphasised the sacrifices made by Hezbollah and its leadership during the war, with special mention of its late Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah.

"This agreement would not have been possible without the resilience of the resistance and the strong support of the people behind it," Hamas said. 

"The enemy's acceptance of an agreement with Lebanon without meeting its conditions marks an important step in shattering Netanyahu's illusions of reshaping the Middle East."

Hamas reiterated its commitment to any efforts that would lead to a ceasefire in Gaza, stressing that any agreement should include its conditions of bringing an end to the war, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the return of displaced Palestinians and the exchange of prisoners.

"We are resolute in our stance and will not back down from our national rights. Our resistance remains steadfast until the occupation is defeated," Hamas said.

The speaker of Lebanon's parliament, Nabih Berri, said on Wednesday the war with Israel had been the "most dangerous phase" his country had endured in its history, hours after a ceasefire came into effect.

Berri called for displaced people to "return to your lands" as he urged unity amongst the Lebanese people and called for presidential elections as soon as possible.

Reporting by MEE and Reuters

Jordan said a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah should prompt greater international efforts to bring an end to the war in Gaza.

In an official statement, the kingdom said the move was also a first step towards reversing a dangerous escalation of tensions across the region that had threatened peace and security.

Reporting by Reuters

Turkey, Egypt and China welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon on Wednesday.

Ankara's foreign ministry said it hopes the truce will be permanent and added that the international community must pressure Israel into implementing it.

In a separate statement, Cairo said the agreement will lead to de-escalation. 

In Beijing, China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said her country supports all efforts to ease tensions. 

However, Ning told reporters that the "failure to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza is the root cause of the current round of turmoil in the Middle East".

"All parties should work together to promote a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible," Mao said.

Reporting by MEE and news agencies

Certain leaders could have immunity at the International Criminal Court under the Rome Statute that established the institution, France's foreign minister said Wednesday, after the ICC issued arrests warrants for Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister.

Asked if France would arrest Netanyahu if he stepped on French territory, Jean-Noel Barrot told Franceinfo radio that France "is very committed to international justice and will apply international law". But he added that the court's statute "deals with questions of immunity for certain leaders". 

"It is ultimately up to the judicial authorities to decide," he added. 

Reporting by AFP

Hamas is ready to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, a senior official in the Palestinian group said, hailing the ceasefire that took hold in Lebanon.

"We have informed mediators in Egypt, Qatar and Turkey that Hamas is ready for a ceasefire agreement and a serious deal to exchange prisoners," the official told AFP, however accusing Israel of obstructing an agreement.

Reporting by AFP