What is the UNSC Resolution 1701 upon which the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire is based?

“This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities,” he said in his announcement from the White House. “What is left of Hezbollah and other terrorist organisations will not be allowed to threaten the security of Israel again.”

The onset of Israel’s relentless assault on Palestine in October 2023 has seen an increase in hostilities along the UN-demarcated Blue Line, the de facto border separating Israel and Lebanon.

The ceasefire proposal draws on the provisions of Resolution 1701 passed by the UN Security Council (UNSC) in 2006. Skirmishes across the border continued, and the resolution was never fully implemented at the time. We explain.

What is Resolution 1701?

Quite simply, the UNSC Resolution 1701 aims at ending hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, and calls for the creation of a buffer zone as well as a permanent ceasefire.

The resolution meant to complete the withdrawal of Israeli forces in 2000 from southern Lebanon along the ‘Blue Line’ and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights.

In July 2006, Israel invaded Lebanon after Hezbollah killed three Israeli soldiers and kidnapped two others. The war lasted over a month and resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 Lebanese people and 170 Israelis.

The UNSC unanimously passed Resolution 1701 on August 11, 2006, calling for a full cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

The 19-paragraph resolution calls for a long-term solution based on the following provisions:

• The full implementation of the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords and resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006), requiring the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon, so there will be no weapons or authority in the country other than that of the Lebanese State
• No foreign forces in Lebanon without the Government’s consent
• No sales or supply of arms and related materials to Lebanon except as authorised by its Government
• Provision to the UN of all remaining maps of landmines in Lebanon in Israel’s possession
• Full respect by both parties for the Blue Line and security arrangements to prevent the resumption of hostilities, including an area free of any armed personnel, assets and weapons other than those of the Lebanese authorities and UNIFIL between the Blue Line and the Litani River.
• The Security Council thus authorised the UNIFIL force strength to a maximum of 15,000 U.N. peacekeepers to monitor the end of hostilities, help secure the area with Lebanese troops and ensure the safe return of displaced Lebanese.

And what does the current ceasefire proposal say?

The US-backed proposal falls firmly within the limits of the resolution and calls for a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah within 60 days. This period will allow Hezbollah fighters to retreat 40 kilometres away from the Israel-Lebanon border. Israeli ground forces are expected to withdraw from the Lebanese territory they have occupied since October 2023.

Lebanon is expected to implement a rigorous supervision of Hezbollah’s movements south of the country’s Litani river, to prevent militants from regrouping there. These would be monitored by UN peacekeeping troops, the Lebanese military and a multinational committee.

Israel, on the other hand, has vowed to resume military operations in case of a breach of the agreement.