Kenya welcomes ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
What you need to know:
- Israel and Lebanon accepted the US-backed proposal to end the 13-month border conflict.
- US President Joe Biden said the deal is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.
The Kenyan government has welcomed the newly brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, calling it a vital step towards restoring peace in the volatile Middle East region.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said the ceasefire agreed last night now paves the way for restoring normalcy between the two neighbouring countries of Israel and Lebanon.
This, he said, will foster stability and promote peace and prosperity across the Middle East.
“Since the onset of the conflict, Kenya has successfully facilitated the evacuation of over 300 of its citizens, with no casualties reported among our nationals,” Mr Mudavadi said Wednesday.
The evacuation efforts, he noted, remain ongoing to ensure the safety of all Kenyans in the region.
“We call upon leaders across the Middle East to embrace dialogue and prioritise peace and stability in the region,” the PCS said.
Israel and Lebanon accepted the US-backed proposal to end the 13-month border conflict that spiraled into an all-out war in September with Hezbollah.
From the White House’s Rose Garden, US President Joe Biden said the deal that took effect early Wednesday morning, “is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.”
The ceasefire “will create the conditions to restore lasting calm and allow residents in both countries to return safely to their homes on both sides of the Blue Line,” according to a joint statement from president Biden and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, referring to the de facto border between Lebanon and Israel.
The US and France will work with both sides to “ensure this arrangement is fully implemented and enforced.”
After Israel’s security cabinet voted to approve the deal on Tuesday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the Lebanon ceasefire needs to guarantee the safety of residents in northern Israel.
