As an uneasy truce between Israel and Hezbollah offers the Lebanese a desperately needed reprieve, Palestinians in Gaza feel abandoned, even as the US pushes for a renewed effort to end the fighting in the enclave.

Slavin said Hezbollah’s enduring power made a ceasefire in Lebanon an attractive prospect for Israel. What remains of Hamas’ organized forces is unclear, but it was apparent this week that Hezbollah remains intact, if diminished — and that it is still capable of firing missiles at Israel.

The agreement with Lebanon will maintain Israel's freedom of operation there to act in defence to remove threats posed by Hezbollah and enable displaced residents to return safely to their homes in northern Israel, Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer told Reuters.