Resolution 1701 which timetabled for the “cessation of hostilities” was agreed by the Lebanese cabinet and Hizbullah on Saturday and the Israeli cabinet on Sunday. The ceasefire began at 0800 local time. It ended what was Israel’s longest war and accomplished the systematic bombing of Lebanon back to what it was 20 years prior as well as the killing of over 1000 civilians. Any other such ‘achievements’ are yet to be discovered.

The violence had continued right up until the ceasefire deadline. In southern Beirut, war planes menacingly continued to patrol the skies and carry out air strikes until fifteen minutes before the deadline. Seven people were killed in a single attack over the weekend as Israeli war planes attacked a convoy of cars transporting hundreds of Christian families to the Bekaa valley headed by the Lebanese army. At least 19 people were killed by Israeli bombardment over Lebanon on Sunday including the deaths of a mother and her three children. It was reported that one Israeli civilian was killed by a Hizbullah Katyusha rocket in Northern Israel.

While the mainstream media reports the ceasefire as continuing to be upheld, they also reported that the Israeli army opened fire on Hizbullah militants resulting in one casualty. The man was said to be among a group of people approaching an Israeli outpost. This was perceived to be threatening behaviour and the soldiers opened fire killing one of the men. Nevertheless the systematic bombardment of Lebanese towns and villages did come to a halt as did the rocket fire into northern Israel.

The possibility of clashes on the ground however remains high as following the massive land invasion, the Israeli army continues to occupy areas of land up to the Litani River, 18 miles from the Israeli border. The presence of the estimated 30,000 troops is a sensitive issue and the very fact that they remain is seen as threatening. Israel maintains it will continue to be an occupying force in southern Lebanon until the Lebanese army is deployed alongside the UN peace keeping force. Hizbullah although currently upholding the ceasefire, argue that because the Israeli army are occupying Lebanon they remain a justified target for their resistance.  

Today also marked a day of return for the thousands of people driven out from their homes because of the war. Families packed into cars which squeezed through the heavily battered roads taking what provisions they could in the hope that their homes were among the standing and unscathed. Israelis who had remained in Northern Israel also began to enter the streets from the bunkers in which they had been sheltering from Hizbullah rocket fire. 

There was a degree of relief for the aid agencies who for the last month have sought desperately to go to the aid of the besieged civilians numbered at some 100,000 in Southern Lebanon but were unable to do so because of the continued bombing raids. Travel however remains difficult as many bridges and roads have been destroyed and furthermore Israel continued to impose a traffic curfew over southern Lebanon. Bringing aid into the country is similarly difficult as the naval and air blockade remains in place.

The victor in this war is a matter of debate as both sides staunchly maintains that they were the winners of the war. While it easy to see who inflicted the most damage on the enemy, Hizbullah’s chief Sheikh Hasan Nasrullah commented that the very fact that Hizbullah was able to continue its resistance against the fourth largest army in the world, was victory enough. He further promised that his organisation would help in the process of rebuilding the houses which have been destroyed during the war.

The results of what one commentator described as “the latest dirty war in Lebanon” are the deaths of over 1000 Lebanese civilians and 43 Israeli civilians as well as the damage of over $2.5 billion to Lebanon from the Israeli bombings of all its infrastructure. Questions will now be asked about the conduct of the Israeli army during the war. Most notably the indiscriminate tactics of the bombing campaigns as well as the use of cluster bombs in densely populated residential areas.   

Independent journalist Robert Fisk concluded the following to be the consequences of the month long war:

“The guerrilla army - "terrorists" to the Israelis and Americans but increasingly heroes across the Muslim world - have many dead to avenge, although their leadership seems less interested in exacting an eye for an eye and far more eager to strike at Israel's army.

At this fatal juncture in Middle East history - and no one should underestimate this moment's importance in the region - the Israeli army appears as impotent to protect its country as the Hizbollah clearly is to protect Lebanon.

But if the ceasefire collapses, as seems certain, neither the Israelis nor the Americans appear to have any plans to escape the consequences. The US saw this war as an opportunity to humble Hizbollah's Iranian and Syrian sponsors but already it seems as if the tables have been turned. The Israeli military appears to be efficient at destroying bridges, power stations, gas stations and apartment blocks - but signally inefficient in crushing the "terrorist" army they swore to liquidate."

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