“After a violent night in which Israel’s aerial bombardment of Beirut spread yet more chaos and destruction, we now have a long-overdue ceasefire,” says Jan Egeland, the secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
“It will be a moment of relief for the families I met recently in Lebanon – and for millions around the country – but this relief must be lasting,” he added. Egeland said the ceasefire must end displacement in the country, as many will have nowhere to return.
“Many will have no homes to return to, no schools for their children, and livelihoods destroyed. The wellbeing of children and their families must be prioritized in what will be a long journey to recovery,” Egeland said.
He said the NRC would remain in the country until the humanitarian situation changed.
“It is now also far beyond time for the fighting in Gaza to cease too. The ceasefire in Lebanon must not lead to any further escalation there or elsewhere,” Egeland added.
Reacting to the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said to Reuters, “Hamas appreciates Hezbollah’s right to strike a deal protecting his people.”
Abu Zuhri also said that Hamas is ready to reach a ceasefire with Israel to stop the fighting in Gaza.
Attempts to reach a lasting ceasefire in the 14-month-long war in Gaza have thus far proved futile, as Israel has turned down several proposals. Fighting only halted during one weeklong truce late in November 2023.
