JERUSALEM — After close to 14 months of ongoing cross-border conflicts, Israel has reached an agreement for a ceasefire with Hezbollah, the militant group based in Lebanon.

The ceasefire is set to take effect early on Wednesday and marks an initial two-month pause in hostilities. The terms stipulate that Hezbollah must cease its military activities in a vast area of southern Lebanon, while Israeli forces are expected to withdraw to their own territory. However, the actual enforcement of this agreement poses significant uncertainties.

The escalation of tensions commenced on October 8, 2023, following a surprise attack by Hamas on southern Israel, which prompted Hezbollah to launch rockets into Israeli territory as an expression of support for Hamas. Israel responded with retaliatory strikes. This conflict has caused widespread displacement, affecting tens of thousands of individuals on both sides of the border.

In response to the ongoing violence, Israel increased its military operations in Lebanon approximately two months prior to the ceasefire announcement, including a ground invasion. The toll of this conflict has been devastating, with reports indicating that over 3,500 lives have been lost in Lebanon, a considerable portion of whom were civilians. In Israel, casualties have exceeded 70, with over 40 civilians among them. Furthermore, the ground offensive has resulted in the deaths of more than 50 Israeli soldiers. The brutality of the conflict has led to the destruction of entire villages in Lebanon and the devastation of thousands of acres of farmland in Israel due to rocket fire from Hezbollah.

The impact of this prolonged conflict underscores the grave humanitarian and social repercussions it has had on both nations.