US Brokers Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire, Netanyahu Agrees To Peace Push
Israel and Lebanon agree to a US-brokered ceasefire, opening a window for negotiations despite key conditions and unresolved tensions. Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
The US, on Thursday (April 16, 2026), said the 10-day ceasefire brokered between Israel and Lebanon could be extended by mutual agreement, but Tel Aviv had the right to self-defence.
The US State Department released the contents of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Israel and Lebanon, under which the two nations agreed to a six-point truce.
The MoU outlined the terms of the ceasefire that began on Thursday (April 16) to facilitate negotiations for a long-term peace.
The MoU noted that the ceasefire was “a gesture of goodwill by the Government of Israel, intended to enable good-faith negotiations toward a permanent security and peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon.”
It said Israel’s defensive posture would continue, despite the temporary cessation of hostilities. “Israel shall preserve its right to take all necessary measures in self-defence, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks. This shall not be impeded by the cessation of hostilities,” the US State Department said.
“Besides this (defensive operations), it (Israel) will not carry out any offensive military operations against Lebanese targets, including civilian, military, and other state targets, in the territory of Lebanon by land, air, and sea,” the US said.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tel Aviv agreed to the ceasefire with Lebanon, calling it an “opportunity to forge a historic peace agreement.”
In a video statement, Netanyahu said the ceasefire aimed at advancing peace efforts, but insisted that disarmament of the militant group Hezbollah remained a precondition.
He also noted that Israeli forces would remain in a 10-km security zone inside southern Lebanon during the ceasefire.
“We have an opportunity to forge a historic peace agreement with Lebanon. President Donald Trump intends to invite the President of Lebanon and me to try to advance this agreement,” Netanyahu said in a social media post.
“This balance has shifted to such an extent that in the past month we have begun receiving calls from Lebanon to hold direct peace talks — something that had not happened for over 40 years,” he said.
Netanyahu added that Israel maintained two conditions for the ceasefire: Hezbollah’s disarmament, and a lasting peace agreement “based on strength”.
He said Israel rejected the two conditions posed by Hezbollah: Israel’s full withdrawal from Lebanese territory, and a ceasefire based on the principle of “quiet in return for quiet.”
