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Israel-Gaza-Lebanon live updates: American hostage's father makes plea to Biden and Trump

Edan Alexander has been captive since Oct. 7.

Last Updated: December 1, 2024, 5:29 PM EST

A ceasefire went into effect at 4 a.m. local time Wednesday morning after Israel's Cabinet approved the U.S.-backed proposal to end the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah after prolonged negotiations.

The Israel Defense Forces continues its intense airstrike and ground campaigns in Gaza, particularly in the north of the devastated Palestinian territory.

Tensions also remain high between Israel and Iran after tit-for-tat long-range strikes in recent months and threats of further military action from both sides.

Nov 27, 2024, 1:17 PM EST

Isolated incidents reported as ceasefire begins

The Israel Defense Forces and Lebanese media are reporting several isolated incidents in southern Lebanon after the ceasefire went into effect.

Israeli forces fired "artillery shells" in Kfar Kila, Al-Aadaissah and Khiyam in southern Lebanon, Lebanese state media reported.

"In light of Hezbollah members entering the village of Kila, Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the IDF to act firmly and without compromise against such phenomena," the Israeli defense minister’s office said in a press release.

This picture shows the destruction from Israeli bombardments in Lebanon's southern village of Khiam on Nov. 27, 2024, after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect.
AFP via Getty Images

"The IDF will operate against anyone who attempts to breach the ceasefire agreement and will continue to protect the citizens of Israel," the IDF said in a separate release.

Two journalists were injured after Israeli forces opened fire on a group of them in the town of Khiam while they were covering the return of Lebanese residents to the town, Lebanese state media reported.

The Israel Defense Forces said they received the report regarding several journalists injured in the Khiam area and added the IDF is "unaware of fire toward the journalists."

"As of now, only warning shots have been fired in the area," the IDF said. "The IDF remains in southern Lebanon and will actively enforce every violation of the ceasefire agreement."

An Israeli security official said there have been "several incidents" of gunmen and others trying to provoke Israeli forces in southern Lebanon since the ceasefire went into effect. The Israeli security official called them "isolated incidents" that often happen in the first day of a ceasefire and have happened in previous wars.

The IDF's position right now is that Lebanese residents should not come back to villages in southern Lebanon as they are not safe, the Israeli security official said.

The ceasefire calls for a handover from the IDF to the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon. The Israeli security official implied it would not be safe for Lebanese residents to return until that handover is complete.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have instructed the IDF not to allow the population to enter the area of ​​villages near the border in southern Lebanon, in accordance with the first phase of implementing the ceasefire outline," the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in a release Wednesday.

-ABC News' Ghazi Balkiz and Jordana Miller

Nov 27, 2024, 1:04 PM EST

Lebanese army warns residents not to return to front-line villages, towns in the south

Initial reports suggest the ceasefire is holding, but the Lebanese army is being cautious in parts of southern Lebanon, asking people to wait for Israeli forces to withdraw before returning to front-line villages and towns, in a statement to the public Wednesday.

The Lebanese army also said it is already starting to strengthen its deployments in the South Litani sector in coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon on Wednesday.

The Israel Defense Forces warned residents of south Lebanon not to travel south of the Litani River from 5 p.m. local time Wednesday until 7 a.m. local time Thursday morning, in a post on X, warning any movement toward these areas exposes people to "danger."

-ABC News' Ghazi Balkiz

Nov 27, 2024, 8:11 AM EST

Biden says US to make 'another push' on Gaza ceasefire

President Joe Biden said Wednesday that the U.S. "will make another push with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and others to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza" over the coming days, following the success of ceasefire talks in Lebanon.

Palestinians inspect the damage at the site of an Israeli airstrike in the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza on Nov. 27, 2024.
Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images

Negotiations, Biden said in a post to X, must end "with the hostages released and an end to the war without Hamas in power."

-ABC News' Jordana Miller

Nov 27, 2024, 7:38 AM EST

Lebanon PM confirms ceasefire acceptance

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati confirmed Lebanon's acceptance of the ceasefire in an address on Wednesday.

"We affirm the government's commitment to implementing Security Council Resolution 1701 in all its provisions," he said, referring to the 2006 U.N. Security Council measure that sought to end the last bout of cross-border fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati delivers a statement to the press in Beirut on Nov. 27, 2024.
Fadel Itani/AFP via Getty Images

Resolution 1701 stipulated that Hezbollah must withdraw all forces north of the Litani River and that all Israeli forces must leave -- and no longer violate the sovereignty of -- Lebanon.

Mikati did not address the separate U.S.-Israeli agreement backing Israel's right to continue to strike anywhere in Lebanon if deemed necessary for self-defense.

-ABC News' Ghazi Balkiz and Somayeh Malekian

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