The Israeli Cabinet on Tuesday approved the US-backed ceasefire proposal between Israel and Hezbollah after lengthy negotiations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu submitted the proposal to the cabinet for approval on Tuesday evening local time. The deal was approved 10-1, with only far-right minister Ben Gvir voting against the plan.

The deal then came into force as planned on Wednesday at 4 a.m. local time.

It came into force five hours after Israel announced the agreement. Shortly after Israel announced the news, there was an announcement from President Joe Biden at the White House.

The Lebanese army and security forces will deploy to southern Lebanon over the next 60 days and take control of Hezbollah-controlled territory, Biden said. At the same time, Israel will withdraw its forces over the next 60 days to allow civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes.

However, because the agreement did not come into force until the morning, the bombings in Beirut continued even as Biden concluded his comments.

“Israel appreciates the U.S. contribution to this process and reserves the right to act against any threat to its security,” the Israeli prime minister’s office said, translated from Hebrew.

Netanyahu previously said when submitting the deal for approval that the deal still depends on Hezbollah’s actions.

Hezbollah has not yet officially commented on the ceasefire.

“The duration of the ceasefire depends on what happens in Lebanon,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “We will enforce the agreement and respond vigorously to any violation. We will work together until victory.”

Biden echoed those thoughts in his comments, saying: “Let me be clear: If Hezbollah or anyone else violates the agreement and poses a direct threat to Israel, then Israel retains the right to self-defense, consistent with international law, fairly.” like any country when faced with a terrorist group committed to the destruction of this country.”

The prime minister praised “major successes” on all warfronts, including the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and the destruction of their weapons across the country.

“In full agreement with the United States, we maintain complete military freedom of action,” Netanyahu said in the address translated from Hebrew. “If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to arm itself, we will attack. If it tries to renew terrorist infrastructure near the border, we will attack. If she fires a missile, if she digs a tunnel, if she sends a… truck with missiles – we will attack.”

The agreement has no impact on the ongoing war in Gaza that Israel is waging against Hamas. However, Biden said the US would continue to work to find peace in Gaza.

“Just as the people of Lebanon deserve a future of security and prosperity, so do the people of Gaza,” Biden said. “They too deserve an end to the fighting and displacement. The people of Gaza have been through hell, their worlds have been completely destroyed.”

He continued: “Far too many civilians in Gaza have suffered far too much, and Hamas has refused for months to negotiate a ceasefire and hostage-taking deal in good faith. And now Hamas has the choice to go its only way.” The goal is to release the hostages, including American citizens, they are holding.

Netanyahu attended a meeting with security officials on Sunday evening about a ceasefire with Israel’s Hezbollah opponents in Lebanon, an Israeli official told ABC News.

This was part of ongoing discussions, including Netanyahu’s meeting last week in Israel with US special envoy Amos Hochstein. Hochstein also traveled to Beirut to discuss a possible way forward.

Netanyahu then held a security cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning to discuss the deal and hold a cabinet vote, Israeli officials said.

In October, Israel invaded southern Lebanon, escalating the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant Hezbollah group.

Tensions heightened last weekend as the countries’ leaders worked to negotiate a ceasefire agreement. On Sunday, Hezbollah fired about 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel. This was one of the group’s worst retaliatory strikes in months.