Mike Waltz, the President-elect's national security advisor, said the prospect of Trump returning to office helped get the deal over the line.

The question is whether the cease-fire in Lebanon that Biden announced Tuesday will be the coda to his diplomatic efforts in the Middle East or a steppingstone to agreements that could at last end the devastating war in the Gaza Strip and potentially even set the stage for a broader regional transformation.

Hezbollah launched an attack on Israel the day after Hamas invaded on Oct. 7, 2023. Fighting has intensified in recent months.