presumably tomorrow and that, most people say, is a formality. so i think we can assume that it's pretty much a done deal. it can also help us to end the conflict in gaza. - in particular, hamas will know that it cannot count on - other fronts opening up in the war. - the israeli prime minister says his security cabinet will tonight approve a deal to end the fighting with hezbollah in lebanon. after 13 months of rocket attacks in a land invasion that lasted two months, its expected the fighting will stop tomorrow at 10am local. we have plenty of reaction for you tonight as world leaders begin responding. we are expecting a statement from joe biden

how quickly can 60,000 people from northern israel return to their homes? where does it leave the fragile, fractious politics in lebanon? and what does all this mean for gaza and the palestinians in the west bank? good evening. the israeli cabinet has approved a us—brokered cease—fire that will pause fighting with the lebanese militia hezbollah. the cease—fire will come into effect at 10am wednesday morning despite opposition from some hard—liners in prime minister benjamin netanyahu's cabinet, and it comes after several days and it comes after several days of intense bombardment in beirut. this afternoon, and while the israeli cabinet were still in discussions, there were dark pillars of black smoke drifting above the lebanese capital as one air strike after another targeted hezbollah positions — the intensity of the strikes perhaps a clue that the israeli forces recognised they were now on the clock. sirens

and this was the israeli city of haifa, where the population took cover as rockets went the other way — in fact, a substantial number — which tells you this will be an extremely precarious peace. hezbollah still retains a significant capability. we'll discuss what the framework of what that deal looks like shortly. we're expecting statements imminently from president biden and president macron and from the lebanese pm najib mikati. but here's the prime minister announcing his decision a couple of hours ago. translation: so why go into a ceasefire now? there are three main reasons. the first, focusing on the iranian threat. on the iranian threat, and i don't want to expand on that. the second — to allow our forces to refresh and to also allow our resources

to be replenished. it is no secret that there have been some delays in the supply of ammunition and arms, and this delay is going to be removed. we are going to have advanced weapons and that will save the lives of our soldiers, and it will give us great force orce to complete our missions. the third reason for the ceasefire is to disconnect the two arenas and isolate hamas. since the second day of the war, hamas relied on —— of hezbollah, but with them out of the picture, hamas will be left on its own. so here is the outline of the deal. according to the terms agreed, hezbollah will withdraw its forces from southern lebanon, moving some 25 km back from the israeli border, north of the litani river. in turn, the israeli troops will gradually withdraw from southern lebanon over a period of 60 days, with the regular lebanese army deploying in their place alongside an existing un force

that is already there, known as unifil. the contours of this agreement are not dissimilar to the deal agreed to end the war in 2006 under the un resolution 1701 — though since then, each side has complained that the other has not fully respected their obligations. the israelis are reassured that this time, an international committee will oversee enforcement headed by the united states. here's the us secretary of state antony blinken outlining his thoughts on a potential cease—fire earlier at a meeting of g7 foreign ministers. it will make a big difference in creating the conditions that will allow people to return to their homes safely in northern israel and in southern lebanon. and i also believe that by de—escalating tensions in the region, it can also help us to end the conflict in gaza. in particular, hamas will know that it can't count on other fronts opening up in the war. so we're tracking this very closely, and i hope and believe that we can get this

over the finish line. just getting news that there is now an evacuation order in parts of central beirut. you can see the central of the city very active through the course of the day. there were 20 air strikes within just a couple minutes. i was just i wasjust thinking i was just thinking tonight, hugo, i was there in 2006 for the cease—fire in beirut, and it was a very noisy evening. you get a mix of emotion at a time like this. it becomes very dangerous, these final few hours of a conflict when the cease—fire is pending. hours of a conflict when the cease-fire is pending. yeah, christian. — cease-fire is pending. yeah, christian, it's _ cease-fire is pending. yeah, christian, it's been - cease-fire is pending. yeah, christian, it's been a - cease-fire is pending. yeah, | christian, it's been a dramatic day with a massive escalation of israeli attacks in the area here in southern beirut where hezbollah is based, came under intense israeli air strikes. even here in central beirut,

there have been multiple attacks targeting parts of central beirut earlier today. a building collapse not farfrom here when there was a huge israeli attack. a couple of hours ago, we try to get to the location of the attack, but we couldn't get there because there was another evacuation warning. in fact, there was another evacuation warning. infact, we there was another evacuation warning. in fact, we were there when there were israeli air strikes hitting parts of central beirut. so it is a dramatic evening here. i think the expectation is that more attacks are going to come during the nightjust before this cease—fire comes into effect. we haven't had an official announcement yet. reports suggest that this is going to happen at ten o'clock local, 8am gmt. the hope here is this is going to put an end to more than a year of violence between israel and hamas. more than 3500 people have been

killed, i million displaced, widespread destruction across the country. a lot of people here obviously want to see this cease—fire. the recovery will take very long time. we cease-fire. the recovery will take very long time. we knew the deal had _ take very long time. we knew the deal had a _ take very long time. we knew the deal had a green - take very long time. we knew the deal had a green light - take very long time. we knew. the deal had a green light from hezbollah, but it also have support from tehran, and why would they be prepared to do that when they were told it was contingent on an end to the conflict in gaza please? exactly, and we heard from sources saying both iran and hezbollah have given the green light. hezbollah has been extremely weekend after weeks of intense israeli air strikes. it is now diminished here in lebanon, and obviously, iran knows that it is in a very difficult situation because it is seeing proxies across the region being targeted not only here in lebanon, but also in

syria, in yemen as well. all these groups supported by iran, backed by iran have been carrying out attacks against israel. i think there is also obviously the big question about hezbollah's future. it is now diminished and it is still extreme the powerful because of the support that it has especially among the shia muslims in the country. but there is fear that the next chapter in this country could include more internal violence. we've seen those reports suggesting that hezbollah has agreed to withdraw its positions from the south of the country, and i think a lot of people here will see this is still humiliating for hezbollah. they were seen as a major threat by the israeli government, and now they've been extremely weekend. this is

a major victory for israel because they've managed to degrade hezbollah very significant leak, but now as part of this deal — not the lebanese authority deals, but kind of a side deal with the americans — they have the recognition of this right to be able to attack lebanon if there is any kind of violation of this deal. this is a major point here, point of controversy, because lebanese bases are a major breach of the country's sovereignty. i think is part of the deal, the americans have recognised israel's right to go ahead with the attacks. again, in this country, this deal is being seen as a defeat for hezbollah, but a victory for israel.- but a victory for israel. yeah, really interesting _ but a victory for israel. yeah, really interesting themes - but a victory for israel. yeah, really interesting themes in l really interesting themes in all of that, hugo. not least the politics internally in lebanon. thank you very much for that. we are waiting for a statement from joe biden, which i guess is delayed pending

approvalfrom i guess is delayed pending approval from the full israeli cabinet. let's go to washington and speak to gary 0'donoghue. it's all about legacy now. how much pressure do you think they put on israel to get this across the line behind the scenes is yellow a lot, they put a lot of effort and a lot of diplomatic effort and a lot of diplomatic effort into this, and i think this will be seen as clearly something of a victory for the upcoming administration if it goes over the line. —— outgoing and ministration. january the 20th, when the inauguration takes place. you remember the amount of time and effort that was put into the situation in gaza over the last year. that hasn't produced an outcome that the americans or anyone else is satisfied with. so, this is at least something of a victory in place of that. interestingly, donald trump's team has

consulted on this deal and we learned they viewed it favourably. in the last few minutes, donald trump not able to resist an opportunity, i think said this. rightly predicted that actors in the region would make moves towards peace because of historic victory. so, donald trump trying to claim credit as well. do we think that could form part of it? he said he didn't want to inherit a mess in the middle east. we do know that prime minister netanyahu is closer to donald trump that he ever was to joe closer to donald trump that he ever was tojoe biden. i closer to donald trump that he ever was to joe biden.- ever was to joe biden. i don't think there's _ ever was to joe biden. i don't think there's any _ ever was to joe biden. i don't think there's any doubt - ever was to joe biden. i don't think there's any doubt that l ever was to joe biden. i don't| think there's any doubt that in these sort of interregnum �*s, if you like, that there are places like america on the one hand being incredibly vulnerable to national security terms. these are weak moments, if you like, for the united states with an outgoing

president and a president not yet in power. but also, they do shake up i think views around the world. they make people reassess, they make people second guess that what might be coming might not be as favourable to them or more favourable. so, they are sort of... they have a kabbalistic court of power. i don't know is the honest truth —— capitalistic. the honest truth -- capitalistic.- the honest truth -- caitalistic. , ., capitalistic. gary, always good to net capitalistic. gary, always good to get your — capitalistic. gary, always good to get your thoughts. - capitalistic. gary, always good to get your thoughts. we - capitalistic. gary, always good to get your thoughts. we willl to get your thoughts. we will come back to you may hopefully when we get a statement. short break. around the world and across the uk — you're watching bbc news.

welcome back. the lives of thousands of people in northern israel and lebanon on hold them tonight. resting on a

cease—fire which is scheduled to start at 10am tomorrow. i doubt there's much celebration in beirut. the southern suburb of beirut was bombed 20 times. there been a rare evacuation earlier orders. not to mention the precarious nature when forces are withdrawing at risk. with us tonight, senior associate fellow at the royal united services institute. always welcome on the programme. can we take a little look at the deal itself, what is on the table? what was the problem with the previous un resolution 1701? why did the agreement made in 2006 never work and why is this different? so, there's a number of different reasons why the

previous resolution wasn't deemed satisfactory. i think what was different is the israelis consider they had degraded his brother. —— hezbollah. they will take response billeted for security. we don't know this completely for sure at this point, but the information i received is that unifil will remain in the south of lebanon and moderator. frankly, the biggest question is whether or not the israelis will hold to the deal over the 60—day period and thereafter. i personally think they will and i think that has everything to do with the fact that there is a trump administration coming in, and i don't think the trump administration coming and wants to have a war erupt in the first week or so. i do think

this deal will hold, at least these are the indications right now. i don't think it pertains anything good for gaza, i don't think it's bad news, but i don't think there's any good news coming out of this. on the contrary, i think we'll see a lot more destruction and pain they are. lot more destruction and pain the are. ., , they are. you put your finger on one of— they are. you put your finger on one of the issues - they are. you put your finger on one of the issues within l they are. you put your finger l on one of the issues within the proposal, which is the referral process. they can decide whether there's been a breach of the terms, and yet from prime minister yet not who, he said if we see a tunnel being dug, we reserve the freedom 1529 00:16:47,165 --> 00:1