Israel and Lebanon's armed group Hezbollah are close to a ceasefire. A source in the Middle East told CNN on Sunday. However, despite hopes of a ceasefire, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have not stopped. Since mid-September of this year, the death toll in Lebanon has reached an alarming level in the context of an increase in Israeli attacks.
According to CNN's report, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said that since September, the Lebanese Ministry of Health has killed almost 3,500 people in the country due to the increase in Israeli attacks. Which essentially highlights the urgent need for a ceasefire agreement in the region.
The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that although the deal is closer than ever, it is not yet complete. U.S. and Israeli officials cautioned that no final consent has yet been given to mediators. Meanwhile, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CNN, “We are moving forward, but there are still some issues to be resolved.”
A few days ago, the US proposed a 60-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Hezbollah is positively considering that offer. Some hope this short-term truce could serve as the basis for a longer-term truce.
Israel launched an attack on the Israel-Lebanon border last September with the aim of destroying Hezbollah. Since then, Israel has continued ground operations in Lebanon. In addition, the country has killed several leaders of Hezbollah. Among them is Hasan Nasrullah, the founding member of the organization. Besides, thousands of people were injured.
US Special Envoy Amos Hochstein has been busy negotiating with officials from various Middle Eastern countries to reach an agreement. On Sunday, CNN analyst and Axios reporter Barak Ravid, citing a source, said Hochstein told the Israeli ambassador in Washington on Saturday that if Israel did not respond positively to the cease-fire proposal, he would withdraw from mediation efforts.
Earlier, an Israeli official told CNN on Sunday that Netanyahu discussed the ceasefire proposal with those concerned.
Meanwhile, at least 84 people were killed and 213 injured in Israeli attacks in Lebanon on Saturday. About 30 people were killed in an attack on a high-rise building in a densely populated area of Beirut, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
According to statistics from the Lebanese Ministry of Health, a total of 3 thousand 72 people have been killed and 13 thousand 426 wounded as a result of Israel's operation against Hezbollah since September 16.
