Lebanese Speaker urges action against Israel amid violation of truce deal 1,500 times

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has strongly condemned Israeli violations of the November 27, 2024 truce agreement, demanding the Jewish state withdraw its troops from Lebanese territory and cease its repeated breaches of the ceasefire terms.

In his statement, Berri highlighted that Israel had violated UN Security Council Resolution 1701 over 1,500 times, contributing to increasing tensions in the region, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Berri emphasized that the first and ultimate beneficiary of escalating conflict in the region is Israel, alongside its military and security apparatus. He reaffirmed Lebanon's commitment to the ceasefire and the provisions of the agreement, which has been in place since late November 2024.

"The Lebanese resistance and the state remain fully committed to the truce, and we call on Israel to respect its obligations under the ceasefire," Berri said. He further called for an urgent investigation by the Lebanese Army, judicial authorities, and the Ceasefire Monitoring Committee into the latest incidents in southern Lebanon, where violence erupted this morning.

Berri also renewed his call for political unity, urging all Lebanese factions to focus on building national solidarity, rallying behind state institutions, including the military, judicial, and security forces. "Political discourse must be purified," Berri urged, in an effort to stabilize Lebanon amid mounting external pressures.

Earlier, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that any further rocket fire targeting Israel's northern border town of Metula would result in Israeli strikes on Beirut. This warning follows a recent uptick in cross-border violence, which has fueled concerns of renewed conflict. Tensions are high as Israel has also faced accusations of violating a ceasefire with the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza.

Since the ceasefire began in November, Israel has reportedly committed nearly 1,100 violations of the agreement, with over 85 Lebanese citizens killed and more than 280 injured.

Despite the deadline for Israel’s full withdrawal from southern Lebanon being set for January 26, the withdrawal has been delayed multiple times, with Israeli forces continuing to occupy five border outposts as of mid-February.

The fragile ceasefire, which brought an end to months of cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah, remains in jeopardy as violations continue to mount, putting both Lebanese and Israeli civilians at risk.

By Khagan Isayev