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Israel-Gaza-Lebanon live updates: 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 28, 2024, 5:16 AM EST

IDF fires at 'suspects' in southern Lebanon, alleging ceasefire violation

The Israel Defense Forces said Thursday morning it fired at "suspects, some with vehicles" arriving in several areas of southern Lebanon.

This picture shows an Israeli army tank stationed between houses in Lebanon southern village of Khiam on Nov. 27, 2024.
-/AFP via Getty Images

The IDF did not give information on the identity of the targets but said their presence in the area "constitutes a violation."

There have been sporadic reports of firing in several areas of southern Lebanon since the IDF-Hezbollah ceasefire went into effect early Wednesday morning.

The IDF has warned evacuated citizens of southern Lebanese towns and villages not to return to their homes until told to do so. Around 1.2 million people in Lebanon -- roughly a quarter of its population -- have been displaced by Israeli attacks and evacuation orders.

Nov 28, 2024, 4:08 AM EST

IDF says residents returning to south Lebanon are 'in danger'

Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Avichay Adraee again urged south Lebanon residents not to return to their homes in a post to X on Thursday morning.

Adraee listed 10 villages in the south as still off limits to evacuated residents, despite Wednesday's ceasefire.

Displaced residents returning to their village walk past a destroyed mosque in the town of Bint Jbeil, southern Lebanon, on Nov. 27, 2024.
Hussein Malla/AP

"The IDF does not intend to target you and therefore you are prohibited at this stage from returning to your homes," he wrote.

Anyone who travels south regardless will be "in danger," Adraee added.

Israeli forces are expected to withdraw from their positions in southern Lebanon in phases during the 60-day ceasefire that came into effect on Wednesday morning.

They will be replaced by Lebanese Armed Forces troops, who will be tasked -- with United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon assistance -- with preventing the return of Hezbollah forces in the area between the Litani River and the Israeli border.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller

Nov 27, 2024, 3:08 PM EST

Hezbollah claims victory, says they will remain 'fully prepared' to deal with Israel's 'ambitions'

Hezbollah said it continued its war against Israel for "more than 13 months," and it was "able to achieve victory over the delusional enemy," the militia said in its first statement since the ceasefire was announced.

Throughout the “Israeli ground operation the attempts of the enemy forces to occupy and establish themselves in any of the towns of the first line of the front did not succeed nor did they succeed in establishing a military and security buffer zone as” Israel had hoped it would, Hezbollah said in a statement.

Hezbollah will remain "fully prepared to deal with the Israeli enemy's ambitions" and "will continue to follow the movements and withdrawals of the enemy's forces beyond the borders, and their hands will remain on the trigger, in defense of Lebanon's sovereignty and for the sake of the dignity and honor of its people," Hezbollah said.

Nov 27, 2024, 1:23 PM EST

'We will see' if Israel's goals in war were realized 'in the next 60 days,' Israeli defense minister says

The goal of Israel’s ongoing war with Hezbollah was to "damage Hezbollah’s capabilities and create the conditions for the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes," Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said, in his first comments since the ceasefire went into effect.

"We will see in the next 60 days whether this goal is realized. When the details of the arrangement, including all its components, become clear to the public, and if effective enforcement is carried out, with Israel at the center, calm and deterrence will be created, it will be possible to say that the goal has been achieved," Katz added.

PHOTO: A United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon soldier stands guard at a base in the southern Lebanese village of Hula on Nov. 27, 2024, after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect early in the morning.
Jalaa Marey/AFP via Getty Images

Katz said the Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire is "creating additional pressure on Hamas."

"From here we look towards the southern front, with the most important goal being to return all the kidnapped people home safely and quickly. Results of the campaign in the north are creating additional pressure on Hamas and we intend to make every effort to create the conditions for a new hostage deal and to bring everyone home -- this is the most important moral goal we are facing now, this is the ultimate goal," Katz said.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller

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