Israel has agreed to a ceasefire proposal put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Tuesday morning, following a wave of Iranian missile strikes that killed at least four people in the Israeli city of Beersheba.
In a brief statement, Netanyahu confirmed Israel’s acceptance of the ceasefire deal, shortly after President Trump declared that the truce was now in effect and urged both sides to uphold the agreement.
The ceasefire comes in the wake of escalating hostilities, with Iran firing multiple missiles into southern Israel in retaliation for recent strikes on its territory.
The attack, which left four Israeli civilians dead, triggered international concern over a possible broader regional conflict.
Despite the ceasefire announcement, the Israeli military reported new missile launches from Iran on Tuesday morning, prompting air raid sirens in northern Israel.
No casualties were immediately reported, but the incident raised questions about the ceasefire’s durability.
In Lebanon, three people were killed after Israeli drones targeted a vehicle in the south of the country, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, Palestinian medical officials reported at least 37 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes, including 29 in a single attack near a food distribution center.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed the ceasefire, calling it a step toward regional stability.
“If this ceasefire succeeds following decisive military strikes by the U.S. against Iran’s nuclear facilities, it will be a very positive development,” Merz said in a post on social media platform X. He urged both Israel and Iran to honor the agreement.
The NATO summit, taking place today, is expected to include discussions on further steps to stabilize the region.
Iranian state media reported the arrest of six individuals accused of spying for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency.
The suspects were apprehended in several cities in Hamadan province, with authorities accusing them of attempting to sow unrest and damage the government’s image online.
Israel Agrees to Ceasefire with Iran Following Deadly Missile Strikes
Iran has arrested dozens of alleged spies and executed several individuals for alleged collaboration with Israel since hostilities began.
Iran’s Mehr news agency reported that Neda Rafiei Parsa, a senior official at Iran’s national electricity agency Tavanir, was killed in an Israeli strike.
Parsa was reportedly responsible for overseeing data management at the agency. No further details about the incident were provided.
Political analyst Ori Goldberg told Al Jazeera that Prime Minister Netanyahu had little choice but to accept the ceasefire due to both mounting domestic pressure and U.S. diplomatic demands.
While Israeli officials claimed they had achieved key objectives, including targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, Goldberg said the results were inconclusive.
“Netanyahu hitched Israel’s strategy to Trump’s diplomacy, and now he must follow through,” Goldberg said. “Ultimately, Trump is focused on regional stability, not prolonged conflict.”
ALSO READ : Harare Pastor in Legal Trouble Over Unpaid US$80K Loan from Friend
For comments, Feedback and Opinions do get in touch with our editor on WhatsApp: +44 7949 297606 or Email: editor@thezimbabwetimes.co.zw.
