'Peace is possible' - Biden announces ceasefire to end 'devastating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah'

U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah, a deal that he and French President Emmanuel Macron partnered together to facilitate.

“Today I have some good news to report from the Middle East. I’m pleased to announce that (Israel and Lebanon’s) governments have accepted the United States' proposal to end the devastating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. I want to thank President Macron of France for his partnership in reaching this moment.” Biden said.

Biden emphasized the responsibility for the fighting that began about 14 months ago lies squarely with the Iranian terror proxies Hamas and Hezbollah.

“Let’s be clear: Israel did not launch this war. The Lebanese people did not seek that war either. Nor did the United States,” he declared. “Under the deal reached today, effective at 4 a.m. tomorrow local time, the fighting across the Lebanese Israeli border will end… What is left of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations will not be allowed to threaten the security of Israel again.”

The president gave a timeline of 60 days for the return of civilians to their homes, stating, “Civilians on both sides will soon be able to safely return to their communities and begin to rebuild their homes, their schools, their farms, their businesses, and their very lives.”

Biden said France and other allied countries will supply aid and assistance to implement the ceasefire but noted that U.S. armed forces would not be engaged in any combat during the process. He also stressed Israel’s right to self-defense under international law.

Addressing the potential ending of the conflict in Gaza, he said, “So, now, Hamas has a choice to make: their only way out is to release the hostages including American citizens which they hold.” Biden also stated that the devastating war between Hamas and Israel, as well as other Iranian proxies, must be stopped and order restored to the entire region. 

Before leaving the podium, Biden repeated that “Peace is possible.” 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced earlier on Tuesday that the war Cabinet had approved the ceasefire, stressing that if Hezbollah breaks the terms, Israel will "respond severely."

Hezbollah is expected to pull its forces and heavy weapons back to the Litani River, roughly 20 miles from the Israeli border.

Netanyahu held meetings on Tuesday in Tel Aviv with government officials, lawmakers and mayors from some of the northern towns that have been evacuated for months.

Since the war with Hezbollah began, over 60,000 Israelis have been "forced to live as refugees in their own country," Biden said, and over 300,000 Lebanese people have also been forced from their homes.