Hochstein in Beirut, says 'significant progress' on Lebanon-Israel cease-fire as Hezbollah accepts proposal

BEIRUT — US special envoy to the Middle East Amos Hochstein arrived in Beirut on Tuesday as Hezbollah accepted a fresh US proposal for a cease-fire with Israel. 

Hochstein met with Lebanon’s parliament Speaker and Hezbollah ally Nabih Berri in his residence in Ain al-Tineh. In statements to reporters following the meeting, the US envoy expressed his commitment to work with the Lebanese government and Israel to end the conflict. 

“Since my last trip to Beirut a few weeks ago, we have had very constructive talks with Speaker Nabih Berri, and we have continued to narrow the gaps through discussions over the last few weeks,” he said. “Specifically, today we made significant progress.”

“I came back because we have a real opportunity to bring this conflict to an end. This is a moment of decision-making. I'm here in Beirut to facilitate that decision, but ultimately it's up to the parties to reach a conclusion to this conflict. It is now within our grasp. As the window is open, I hope the coming days yield a resolute decision,” he said.

Hochstein did not add more details.

He later held a meeting with Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, which was also attended by US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson and caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib. During the talks, Mikati stressed his government’s priority to end the Israeli war on Lebanon while preserving the country’s territorial sovereignty, Lebanese state media reported.

Mikati also emphasized the importance of implementing international resolutions and strengthening the Lebanese army’s authority in the south.

Hochstein’s visit, the second since the Israeli war began in September, comes as the Iran-backed Hezbollah group agreed to a proposal that Washington submitted to Lebanon last week for a halt in the Israel-Hezbollah hostilities that began in October 2023.

His visit, the second since the Israeli war began in September, comes as the Iran-backed Hezbollah group agreed to a proposal that Washington submitted to Lebanon last week for a halt in the Israel-Hezbollah hostilities that began in October 2023.

Ali Hassan Khalil, aide to Hezbollah ally and parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, told Reuters that the Lebanese government and Hezbollah delivered a written approval of the proposal to the US ambassador in Lebanon on Monday with some remarks.

“Lebanon presented its comments on the paper [cease-fire proposal] in a positive atmosphere,” Khalil said, adding that these comments are in line with UN Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. He did not elaborate on the comments. 

Khalil, who is also a former finance minister, said Israel was trying to negotiate “under fire,” in reference to the heavy bombardment of Beirut over the past few days. “This won't affect our position,” he stressed.

Hezbollah said in an earlier statement Tuesday that its Secretary-General Naim Qassem was expected to deliver a speech Tuesday, before later announcing that his address has been postponed to a time to be announced later.

Israel has yet to respond to the latest proposal.

During a meeting last Thursday, US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson delivered a draft proposal to Berri, who is negotiating on behalf of Hezbollah.

The local Nidaa al-Watan newspaper, which obtained a copy of the new proposal, revealed details including the establishment of a monitoring committee to ensure the full implementation of Resolution 1701 that would be headed by an American general and include a French general.

The resolution calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah and its withdrawal from the area south of the Litani River as well as the deployment of UN peacekeeping forces and Lebanese army troops in the south along the border with Israel.  

The new US proposal also stresses Israel’s undisputed right to intervene in Lebanon in case of violations of the resolution, as well as the dismantlement of Hezbollah’s military infrastructure not only south of the Litani River but also areas to the north of it.

Lebanon's Al-Akhbar newspaper, which has ties to Hezbollah, reported Monday that the group is dealing with the new US proposal with “great openness” despite some remaining sticking points.

According to well-informed sources cited by Al-Akhbar, the Lebanese side still has some reservations about the clauses concerning the international monitoring force ensuring the implementation of Resolution 1701 and Israel’s right to self-defense.

The Lebanese daily cited another prominent political source as saying that “Hezbollah’s response is in line with Resolution 1701” and “Hochstein’s visit is not aimed at declaring a cease-fire but rather to discuss the Lebanese stance before carrying it to Tel Aviv.”

Speaking to reporters following a meeting with Berri on Monday, Lebanese caretaker Labor Minister Mustafa Bayram confirmed that the parliament speaker will convey the “positive Lebanese position” on the cease-fire to Hochstein during his upcoming visit to Beirut.

While the Israeli government has yet to comment on the reports, former Defense Minister Benny Gantz wrote on the X platform Monday that "full Israeli freedom of action against any violation” is “a condition for any agreement with Lebanon."

Israel launched its war on Lebanon in September and began a limited ground invasion in the south nearly a year after cross-border exchanges with Hezbollah erupted Oct. 8, 2023. Since then, more than 3,481 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon and 14,786 others injured, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

The United Nations said Tuesday that more than 200 children were killed in the past two months alone, warning that this situation has become “acceptable.” “Despite more than 200 children killed in Lebanon in less than two months, a disconcerting pattern has emerged: Their deaths are met with inertia from those able to stop this violence,” UNICEF spokesperson James Elder said during a press briefing in Geneva.

“For the children of Lebanon, it has become a silent normalization of horror,” he further deplored.

In Israel, the year of fighting with Hezbollah has left 43 civilians and 69 Israeli soldiers dead, according to Israeli authorities.

This article has been updated since first publication.