The Blue Line: Towards a peace theorem for the future of the Middle East and the Red Sea, in Tel Aviv

Scott Neuman was in Tel Aviv. Lauren Frayer reported from Lebanon, while Daniel Estrin reported from Tel Aviv.

“Urgent work must now begin to ensure this peace is sustained. The agency stated that children and families must be able to return to their communities safely.

In a statement, the UN agency said it hopes the agreement will bring an end to the war which has killed more than 270 children and injured over 1,400.

The UN refugee agency says fighting has limited access to southern Lebanon, where almost 188,000 people currently live in more than 1,000 collective shelters. “The heavy bombardments have also had a devastating impact on public services and infrastructure,” the agency said.

According to David Wood, a senior analyst on Lebanon at the Crisis Group, many of the country’s displaced may not be able to return to their homes in a long time. The Blue Line is the demarcation in southern Lebanon from where Israel withdrew in 2000.

The UNIFIL-FIRSTIP Agreement, the Geneva Security Council, and the Hamas-Palestinian Interaction in the Gaza Strip

The group Hamas thanked Hezbollah for its support to the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian resistance, as well as the death of its leader, Nasrallah.

And in Gaza, there are worries as well. Wala Hanuna, 34, a Palestinian displaced by Israel’s nearly 14-month military offensive there, worried that the Israeli military would now be free to wreak more destruction on the territory. The Israeli army fighting in Lebanon is heading for Gaza, she said. “I think there will be a war here for another year, with no one thinking how we will get out of this.”

In a joint statement, the president of France and the president of the US stated that the deal will end the fighting in Lebanon and ensure Israel’s security. They stated that it will allow people in both countries to return to their homes safely along the border.

To ensure security in the area, the deal calls for thousands of Lebanese government soldiers to deploy to the south, along with U.N. peacekeeping forces known as UNIFIL, according to a copy of the deal seen by NPR. There will be an international panel monitoring violations of the agreement.

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Cairo hopes the ceasefire “will contribute to the beginning of the de-escalation phase in the region.” It said that there was a need for Israel to allow full access to humanitarian aid without obstacles in view of what happened in the Gaza Strip.

“The stated intent is that if they don’t get satisfaction from the U.S.-led committee, they will go their own way and take action,” he said.

An expert at the Atlantic Council says that this will be about enforcement. “They’re telegraphing that there will not be any exceptions [as] in the past.”

The Israeli military said in a statement that “several suspects were identified arriving with vehicles to a number of areas in southern Lebanon, breaching the conditions of the ceasefire.” It said troops opened fire at them and would enforce their violations of the ceasefire agreement.

The truce went into effect at the crack of thedawn on Wednesday. Fighting, however, continued up to the zero hour, with Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon far into the night.

There was a good deal to come because of the international pressure. He said that they have someplace to return to. Alluding to the devastation that Israel has inflicted on southern Lebanon, he added: “The Lebanese have nowhere to return to.”

Hezbollah began to fire rockets into northern Israel in support of Hamas after an attack on Israel. Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire since then. Over 3000 people have died in Lebanon and 80 people have died in northern Israel due to the fighting that began eight weeks ago.

Israel is not encouraging its residents to return to their abandoned homes in the area. Israel will have a period of between 30 and 60 days to repair buildings and institutions that were damaged by Hezbollah fire.

In southern Lebanon, Patricia Taleb, 24, was driving Wednesday to reach the home she was forced to abandon earlier. “We know that this is the end days of the war. We know that ultimately it’s going to be OK,” she told NPR.

Many Lebanese already began trying to return to their southern villages, despite Israeli military warnings not to do so yet, while Israeli troops are still deployed.

Hezbollah’s senior commanders in the south, including Mohammed Nasser, and rocket and missile commander Ibrahim Qubaisi, were killed by Israel in the last few months.

TEL AVIV, Israel, and BEIRUT — Celebratory gunfire rang out in the Lebanese capital Beirut overnight Tuesday to mark the start of a ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon to end almost 14 months of fighting.

The National News Agency said two people were wounded by Israeli fire in Markaba, close to the border. It stated Israel fired at three locations near the border. There were no reports of casualties.

A reporter with The Associated Press heard the sound of Israeli drones buzzing and the sound of missiles being fired from the Lebanon side.

In Menara, an Israeli community on the border with views into Lebanon, around three quarters of homes are damaged, some with collapsed roofs and burnt-out interiors. A few people could be seen gathering their belongings on Thursday.