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While the imminent truce between Hezbollah and Israel is expected to end the war in Lebanon, its effects may reach Gaza.

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Israeli security sources have indicated that the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah could lead to progress in negotiations with Hamas for the release of hostages, according to the Israeli website Walla on Tuesday.
The potential agreement with Hamas, if reached, could include maintaining Israeli control over the Philadelphi Corridor, the same source noted.

A senior security official told Walla earlier that military pressure on Hamas and its allies had brought the possibility of a hostage-release agreement closer than ever.
Israeli security officials believe that Hamas’s ability to coordinate its activities with Hezbollah has been severed, placing it under immense pressure.

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Israeli estimates suggest that about half of the remaining hostages in Gaza are still alive.
Earlier this month, Israel Hayom reported that Israeli officials believed 51 of the 101 hostages remaining in Gaza were alive.

Later, Walla mentioned that President Isaac Herzog confirmed during a call with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump that around 50 hostages were still alive.

Last week, Hamas claimed that an Israeli hostage had been killed in northern Gaza during an Israeli army bombardment.

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Upcoming Cabinet Meeting

The Israeli security cabinet, or kabinett, is scheduled to meet at 4:00 PM Israel time (2:00 PM GMT) to discuss the impending Lebanon truce.

Ministers have been asked to allocate at least three and a half hours to review the agreement.

Barring any last-minute surprises, the kabinett is expected to announce its approval of the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon.

The discussions will take place in the fortified Kirya compound in Tel Aviv to prevent any leaks.

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According to ongoing consultations, the United States, along with one or more other countries, will announce that negotiations conducted with Israel and Lebanon have resulted in an agreement.

After securing approval from Israel and Lebanon, the announcement will specify the start time for implementing the “Declaration of Cessation of Hostilities and Related Commitments to Enhance Security Arrangements and Implement Security Council Resolution 1701.”

Israel and Lebanon will simultaneously issue statements committing to implementing the terms of the agreement.

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Initial Steps

The first step involves Hezbollah and other factions in Lebanon committing to halt all attacks on Israel, which will also cease all attacks on Lebanon by land, sea, and air.

Once the ceasefire comes into effect, an initial 60-day period will be initiated to implement the following measures:

1. The Lebanese army will become the sole armed force south of the Litani River.
2. Any sale or supply of arms and related materials to Lebanon will be regulated and monitored by the Lebanese government.
3. The Lebanese government will instruct its security forces to monitor and enforce any unauthorized entry of arms and related materials into the country, including through all border crossings, and into areas south of the Litani.
4. Lebanese forces will begin dismantling all infrastructure incompatible with government commitments and will confiscate all unauthorized weapons south of the Litani in accordance with these understandings.

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