Israel looks set to approve a U.S. plan for a ceasefire with the Iran-backed Hezbollah on Tuesday, a senior Israeli official said, clearing the way for an end to the war, which has killed thousands of people since it was ignited by the Gaza conflict 14 months ago.

The official said that Israel’s security cabinet is expected to convene later on Tuesday to discuss and likely approve the text at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

This would pave the way for a ceasefire declaration by U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron, four senior Lebanese sources told Reuters on Monday.

In Washington, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday, “We’re close” but “nothing is done until everything is done.”

The French presidency said discussions on a ceasefire had made significant progress.

The agreement has already won approval in Beirut, where Lebanon’s deputy parliament speaker officially told Reuters there were no serious obstacles left to implement it – unless Mr Netanyahu changed his mind.

Mr Netanyahu’s office declined on Monday to comment on reports that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to the text of a deal.

Hezbollah, seen as a terrorist group by Washington, has endorsed its ally Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to negotiate.

The plan requires Israeli troops to withdraw from south Lebanon and Lebanese army troops to deploy in the border region – a Hezbollah stronghold – within 60 days, Elias Bou Saab, Lebanon’s deputy parliament speaker, and a second Israeli official told Reuters.

Signs of a breakthrough have been accompanied by military escalation, with Israeli airstrikes demolishing more of Beirut’s Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs on Monday.

The destruction across wide areas of Lebanon brings into focus a huge reconstruction bill awaiting cash-strapped Lebanon, with more than 1 million people displaced.

In Israel, a ceasefire will pave the way for 60,000 people to return to homes in the north, which they evacuated as Hezbollah began firing rockets in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas a day after that group’s October 7, 2023 assault.

Israel has dealt Hezbollah massive blows since going on the offensive against the group in September, killing its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and other top commanders and pounding areas of Lebanon where the group holds sway.

The group has kept up rocket fire into Israel, firing some 250 rockets on Sunday.

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said on Monday that Israel would maintain the ability to strike southern Lebanon under any agreement. Lebanon has previously objected to Israel being granted such a right, and Lebanese officials have said such language is not included in the draft proposal.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Monday that gaps between the two parties have narrowed significantly, but they still need to take steps to reach an agreement.

In Beirut, Bou Saab told Reuters on Monday there were “no serious obstacles” left to start implementing a U.S.-proposed ceasefire with Israel “unless Netanyahu changes his mind.”

(Reuters/NAN)