The Israeli cabinet approves the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah

After long negotiations, the Israeli cabinet has approved the US-backed ceasefire proposal between Israel and Hezbollah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu submitted the proposal to the cabinet for approval on Tuesday evening local time. The deal was approved 10-1, with only far-right minister Ben Gvir voting against the plan.

Israel announced the deal, which was quickly followed by an announcement from President Joe Biden at the White House. The deal will take effect at 4 a.m. local time, Biden said.

“Israel appreciates the U.S. contribution to this process and reserves the right to act against any threat to its security,” the Israeli prime minister’s office said, translated from Hebrew.

Netanyahu previously said when submitting the deal for approval that the deal still depends on Hezbollah’s actions.

“The duration of the ceasefire depends on what happens in Lebanon,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “We will enforce the agreement and respond vigorously to any violation. We will work together until victory.”

The prime minister praised “major successes” on all warfronts, including the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and the destruction of their weapons across the country.

“In full agreement with the United States, we maintain complete military freedom of action,” Netanyahu said in the address translated from Hebrew. “If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to arm itself, we will attack. If it tries to renew terrorist infrastructure near the border, we will attack. If she fires a missile, if she digs a tunnel, if she sends a… truck with missiles – we will attack.”

Netanyahu attended a meeting with security officials on Sunday evening about a ceasefire with Israel’s Hezbollah opponents in Lebanon, an Israeli official told ABC News.

This was part of ongoing discussions, including Netanyahu’s meeting last week in Israel with US special envoy Amos Hochstein. Hochstein also traveled to Beirut to discuss a possible way forward.

Netanyahu then held a security cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning to discuss the deal and hold a cabinet vote, Israeli officials said.

In October, Israel invaded southern Lebanon, escalating the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant Hezbollah group.

Tensions heightened last weekend as the countries’ leaders worked to negotiate a ceasefire agreement. On Sunday, Hezbollah fired about 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel. This was one of the group’s worst retaliatory strikes in months.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.