ISTANBUL, Jan 19 (Bernama-AA)-- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stressed on Saturday Lebanon’s commitment to Israel’s withdrawal from occupied southern territories within the timeline set by a ceasefire agreement, which is set to expire in seven days, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.

Speaking to reporters at UN Headquarters in New York, Mr. Lazzarini emphasised that the agreement is only the first step in addressing the region’s overwhelming humanitarian challenges.

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said Saturday a "more hopeful" future awaits Lebanon after meeting its new leaders in a two-day visit ahead of a deadline for implementing a fragile Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire.

Israel's Cabinet has approved the Gaza ceasefire deal that would pause the fighting and release dozens of hostages held by militants, along with Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. The approval came early on Saturday after a marathon session by the full Cabinet.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, in a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said that Israel's continued violations of Lebanese sovereignty and the ceasefire agreement represent a clear breach of international commitments.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with visiting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday, during which he urged Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon within the deadline set by the Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire deal.

This will pause the fighting after 15 months of war and see the release of dozens of hostages held by the militants in the Gaza Strip and hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Under the ceasefire agreement, Israel has 60 days - until January 26 - to completely pull its forces out of south Lebanon which it stormed during the war.

The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah group on Saturday accused Israel of hundreds of violations of a ceasefire, to be fully implemented by next week, and warned against testing "our patience".

Lebanon's new president said on Saturday that Israel must withdraw from his country's south by the January 26 deadline set to fully implement an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire agreed last year.His remarks follow a speech by Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem who accused Israel of hundreds of ceasefire violations,

UN Secretary-General supports Lebanon's recovery, appoints new leaders after 26-month political crisis, ceasefire aims to end Israel-Hezbollah war.