MENG ISSUES STATEMENT ON ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH CEASEFIRE DEAL

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens), a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, today issued the following statement on the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal.

"I welcome the news of a ceasefire on Israel's northern border.

Since October 7, Hezbollah has fired tens of thousands of rockets at Israeli communities and forced up to 80,000 Israeli civilians out of their homes.

Thanks to the persistence and continued engagement of the Biden administration, this ceasefire agreement will start the process of allowing them to return home, along with the over 1.2 million Lebanese civilians who have also been displaced due to the conflict.

Crucially, the agreement also includes oversight and monitoring provisions to make sure that Hezbollah forces cannot continue to threaten Israel's northern border. These provisions are critical for the deal's implementation and must be upheld.

I call on Hamas to follow in Hezbollah's footsteps, lay down its weapons, surrender, and release the remaining hostages, who have been in captivity for more than 400 days."

Peace is possible-but it cannot come while Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran and its proxies continue to seek Israel's destruction."