UPDATE 4 - Arab countries welcome cease-fire deal between Lebanon, Israel

ADDS REACTIONS FROM SAUDI ARABIA, BAHRAIN, YEMEN, OMAN

By Anadolu staff

ISTANBUL (AA) - Arab countries welcomed a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Lebanon that took effect early Wednesday, ending over 14 months of fighting between the Israeli army and the Hezbollah group.

In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said the cease-fire would pave the way for de-escalation in the region through the implementation of UN Resolution 1701 and the deployment of the Lebanese army to southern Lebanon.

Resolution 1701, adopted on Aug. 11, 2006, calls for a complete halt to hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel and the establishment of a weapons-free zone between the Blue Line and the Litani River in southern Lebanon, with exceptions for the Lebanese army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), a UN peacekeeping mission.

Egypt said the deal should be "a prelude to stopping the Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip" in addition to "the necessity of reaching an immediate cease-fire, unhindered access to humanitarian aid to the enclave and halting the unjustified violations in the West Bank."

Jordan hailed the cease-fire as "an important step toward halting Israel's aggression on the Gaza Strip and its assaults in the occupied West Bank."

It called the deal “a first step towards reducing the escalation that threatens international peace and security and maintaining the delivery of sufficient and sustainable humanitarian aid to all parts of Gaza.”

The Palestinian Authority expressed hope that the cease-fire agreement would contribute “to ending violence and instability in the region as a result of Israeli policies that are leading the region to an explosion.”

Iraq appreciated the announcement of a cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon in a statement from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressing its "hope that this agreement will help put an end to the violence, destruction and suffering faced by the Lebanese people."

The ministry called on the international community to "take serious and effective steps to stop the ongoing massacres and assaults against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and work to end the humanitarian suffering exacerbated by the continued military escalation."

The Qatari Foreign Ministry welcomed the agreement, hoping that it will "lead to a similar accord to end the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli attacks on the occupied West Bank."

A ministry statement reaffirmed Qatar's "steadfast support" for Lebanon's unity and territorial integrity.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) expressed hope that the cease-fire agreement will lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities.

A Foreign Ministry statement called the deal “a significant step to prevent further suffering of the brotherly Lebanese people.” It affirmed the UAE’s “steadfast position and unwavering support for Lebanon, its sovereignty, territorial integrity and the restoration of its position at the Arab, regional and international level.”

The Saudi Foreign Ministry also welcomed the cease-fire in Lebanon and appreciated all international efforts put forth in this regard.

“The Kingdom hopes this will lead to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 to preserve Lebanon's sovereignty, security and stability and to ensure the safe return of displaced persons to their homes,” said the ministry in a statement.

Bahrain welcomed the deal in a statement from its Foreign Ministry, considering it "an important step toward reducing regional military escalation and tension, preserving the lives of innocent civilians, facilitating the return of displaced people and ensuring the delivery of necessary humanitarian and relief aid to alleviate their suffering.”

Oman, in a statement from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed its welcome of the cease-fire announcement, emphasizing "the need to end the brutal war being waged by Israeli occupation forces on the Gaza Strip."

The Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council welcomed the cease-fire in Lebanon in a statement, expressing its hope that the agreement would lead to a comprehensive end to Israeli aggression.

The cease-fire deal between Israel and Lebanon took effect hours after US President Joe Biden said a proposal to end the conflict had been reached, amid hopes it would stop Israeli airstrikes on Lebanese towns and cities and end the year-long cross-border fighting.

More than 3,800 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon and over 1 million displaced since last October, according to Lebanese health authorities.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar and Rania Abu Shamala