Israel and Lebanon Agree to 10-Day Ceasefire

The agreement comes after a month of renewed hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:54am

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President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, following a month of renewed hostilities between Israel and the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reportedly pushed for the ceasefire as a precondition for any further high-level discussions with Israel. Trump also claimed he would invite Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to a White House meeting, which would be the first time the Lebanese and Israeli heads of state have met in person since 1983.

Why it matters

The ceasefire agreement represents a potential de-escalation of tensions between Israel and Lebanon, which have been engaged in an ongoing conflict involving Israel's fight against Hezbollah. A lasting peace deal could have significant implications for stability in the region, though Hezbollah has not yet confirmed whether it will honor the ceasefire.

The details

According to Trump's announcement, the 10-day ceasefire will allow for further negotiations between the two countries. Israeli forces are currently fighting Hezbollah fighters, not the Lebanese armed forces. Hezbollah said in a statement that 'any ceasefire must be comprehensive across all Lebanese territory and must not allow the Israeli enemy any freedom of movement,' declining to say whether it would honor the ceasefire. Netanyahu called the decision 'an opportunity to reach a historic peace agreement' and said Israeli forces would remain in positions in southern Lebanon as part of a security zone.

  • The ceasefire agreement was announced on Thursday, November 16, 2026.
  • The ceasefire is set to last for 10 days, starting immediately.

The players

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who announced the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon.

Joseph Aoun

The President of Lebanon, who reportedly pushed for the ceasefire as a precondition for further discussions with Israel.

Benjamin Netanyahu

The Prime Minister of Israel, who called the ceasefire agreement 'an opportunity to reach a historic peace agreement'.

Hezbollah

The Lebanese terrorist group that has been engaged in an ongoing conflict with Israel, and has not yet confirmed whether it will honor the ceasefire.

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What they’re saying

“'We're going to see if we can make peace between Lebanon and Israel.'”

— Donald Trump, Former President of the United States

“'Any ceasefire must be comprehensive across all Lebanese territory and must not allow the Israeli enemy any freedom of movement.'”

— Hezbollah

“'It's an opportunity to reach a historic peace agreement.'”

— Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel

What’s next

The 10-day ceasefire agreement is set to expire on November 26, 2026. If the ceasefire holds, it could pave the way for further negotiations and a potential lasting peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon.

The takeaway

The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon represents a potential de-escalation of tensions in the region, though its long-term success remains uncertain given Hezbollah's ambiguous response. A lasting peace deal could have significant implications for stability in the Middle East, but achieving such an agreement will require overcoming longstanding animosities and distrust between the two sides.