Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati has called on the international community to "act swiftly" and "implement an immediate ceasefire".

Mikati adds that the people of Beirut "endured a lot today, as they always have borne the greatest burden for all of Lebanon".

Mikati made the comments on X shortly after Netanyahu's confirmed in an address that his ministers will approve a ceasefire deal this evening.

Netanyahu says his security cabinet will approve a ceasefire deal agreement to end fighting with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Under the deal, he says, any attempts by Hezbollah to rearm will be a violation of the deal, and that Israel will "respond severely" if they do.

He adds that if Hezbollah breaks the deal, Israel will strike.

The Israeli leader says some have warned him that the ceasefire means Israel won't be able to go back into Lebanon if it needs to.

Netanyahu ends by saying "an agreement can be enforced and we will enforce it".

In Lebanon, Hezbollah is no longer the same, Netanyahu says, adding that Israel's military has killed its senior commanders, and Nasrallah, its former leader.

He says the ground feels like it's trembling in Lebanon. Israel has also destroyed Hezbollah infrastructure and "struck great targets", he adds.

He says he is looking at all seven fronts of the conflict and he is looking at the "broader, bigger picture" and he is determined to bring victory to Israel.

Netanyahu starts off by addressing residents in northern Israel, saying he is proud of their perseverance and resilience.

He says thanks the valour of the Israel Defense Forces, they have achieved great achievements. The entire world is in awe, he adds, saying its action reflects Israel’s power across the Middle East.

Netanyahu goes on to say the war will not end until northern Israel residents can return home safely.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is now giving a statement after a meeting with his security cabinet about a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

We'll bring you the key lines as they come, but you can also follow along by pressing Watch live at the top of this page.

Frank Gardner
Security correspondent, in Jerusalem

A lot of people want this ceasefire deal to go ahead.

The US which brokered it, France which will help enforce it, Israel which is largely getting what it wants from it, and most of all the Lebanese people who have endured massively destructive Israeli airstrikes on their capital and other parts of the country.

But not everyone is in favour. Residents in the far north of Israel have been voicing their fears that with Hezbollah allowed to withdraw its remaining forces intact it will simply rearm, regroup and attack them again at a time of their choosing.

One Israeli town leader even advised those who have fled south not to come back.

More now from Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, who has been speaking at a meeting of the G7 in Italy this afternoon.

He says that what we're seeing every day - rockets and missiles going in both directions - only underscores how urgent it is to get the ceasefire across the line, and that stopping them is the single most important thing.

He says the US has been clear from day one that it has its own objectives in the Middle East.

"One is to make sure we do everything we can to support Israel in its efforts to make sure that 7 October never happens again," Blinken says.

Second, he says, is to do everything to make sure this conflict doesn't spread to new fronts. He adds that there has been "significant success in actually doing that despite many many challenges and many moments this could have easily escalated into regional war".

Third, he says, is to do everything to help the people who are caught in the middle of this "horrific crossfire".

The BBC's US partner CBS has more details from a US official about the expected ceasefire deal.

The agreement would give 60 days for Israel to withdraw its forces.

Netanyahu is due to speak in about 30 minutes, and Biden will speak later if the deal remains on track as expected, the official says.

A full and permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is expected to be announced in the coming hours, a US official has told the BBC's US partner CBS.

The deal is "on track" to be approved by both sides and President Biden will then announce that the US brokered the agreement, which will be implemented immediately.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah is in the final stages, speaking following a meeting of the G7.

"This has been an intensive diplomatic effort by the United States, partners like France, working with Israel, working with Lebanon, over many months. And if we get to the conclusion that, I hope we reach very soon, it will make a big difference," he says.

He says those differences include saving lives and livelihoods in Lebanon, creating conditions for Israelis to return to their homes in the north and Lebanese to theirs in the south.

Blinken adds that in de-escalating tensions in the region, this could help end the conflict in Gaza, too, as "Hamas will know that it can't count on other fronts opening up into the war".

Rushdi Abualouf
Gaza correspondent

Palestinians fear that the Israeli army will intensify its attacks in Gaza once the fighting in Lebanon comes to an end.

Although Israeli air strikes have continued, ground incursions into southern Gaza have slowed following the withdrawal of several Israeli battalions to reinforce the northern front amid the conflict with Lebanon.

Palestinians are divided in their outlook. Some hope that the anticipated agreement in Lebanon could pave the way for broader negotiations, including Gaza. However, many remain pessimistic, fearing that a resolution in Lebanon will further complicate the situation in Gaza by allowing Israel to redirect its full military focus there.

Hamas, too, appears deeply disappointed. The group has long sought to expand the conflict in the region to pressure Israel on multiple fronts, but it now faces the reality of losing a key source of support as the Lebanon front quiets down

As we've been reporting, Israel's security cabinet is meeting to discuss the terms of a potential ceasefire deal with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

We've now heard Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will give a statement at 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT).

We'll bring you more as we get it.

Image source, Supplied by Aimee

Aimee, a young woman living in Beirut, says she was trapped in her car when an Israeli military struck nearby.

"We heard two big strikes happening - I can see the cloud, the black cloud," she tells the BBC's World Service OS programme.

"There is a lot of traffic at the moment, people getting stuck around the area. And also we hear the ambulances going in and out of the areas."

Aimee says she's hopeful a ceasefire deal will be announced soon.

"It's been very stressful, we don't have a normal life. It's been months going through that. I mean, at least we are hoping that this will bring us long-term peace," she adds.

Hugo Bachega
Middle East correspondent, in Beirut

There were some chaotic scenes as we tried to get to the area of the building destroyed in an Israeli air strike on Nuweiri in central Beirut earlier today.

But we could not get to the site as some streets had been blocked. Large numbers of people tried to flee as the Israeli military warned it would hit facilities of the Al-Qard Al-Hassan financial institution, linked to Hezbollah.

They have a branch in the area, and residents feared it could be hit.

As we walked, an Israeli drone flew overhead and new warnings were issued for areas of central Beirut for the first time. Gunfire was heard to alert people to leave those areas.

Hugo Bachega
Middle East correspondent, in Beirut

Seven people have been killed in an Israeli air strike on central Beirut earlier today, the Lebanese health ministry says.

The statement adds that the Israeli raid on Al-Nuwairi also injured 37 others.

Israel says 10 missiles crossed from Lebanon into the country's north this afternoon.

"Following the sirens that sounded between 16:44 (14:44 GMT) and 16:45 in the Haifa Bay area, five projectiles that crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory were intercepted by the IAF (Israeli air force)," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says in a statement.

It adds that another five missiles were fired into the Upper and Western Galilee, some of which were intercepted.

Meanwhile, the IDF issued another evacuation notice for Beirut ahead of strikes in the Lebanese capital.

Israel's security cabinet has started its meeting on a potential ceasefire deal with Hezbollah in Lebanon, AFP reports - citing an official.

The meeting is expected to last a number of hours.

Lebanon's foreign minister earlier expressed hope that a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah would be agreed by tonight.

Israeli media reports also suggest a statement might be made later this evening.

G7 foreign ministers have called for an "immediate ceasefire" in Lebanon, as Israel's security cabinet was preparing to discuss a Hezbollah ceasefire deal.

"We support the ongoing negotiation for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah," the ministers said in a statement.

"Now is the time to conclude a diplomatic settlement."

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said a "window of opportunity" was opening up, adding that he hoped those involved would seize that opportunity.

Israel's military says it has struck 20 targets in two minutes during its latest attack on Beirut.

In a statement on X, the Israel Defense Forces adds that eight fighter jets carried out strikes on what it says was a Hezbollah aerial defence unit centre, an intelligence centre, command centre and weapons storage facilities.

"Seven other targets struck were components of Hezbollah's financial system", the statement says.

Hugo Bachega
Middle East correspondent, in Beirut

Israel has carried out what appears to be the largest wave yet of air strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, just before the Israeli security cabinet was expected to discuss a ceasefire with Hezbollah.

The multiple attacks hit Dahieh, the area where Hezbollah is based in the capital, and came after the Israeli military issued evacuations warnings for 20 buildings. Footage broadcast on TV showed a dramatic picture of multiple plumes of smoke rising from the area.

About 30 minutes earlier, an air strike hit Nuweiri, in central Beirut, without warning, which indicates a possible assassination attempt.

There has been no comment from the Israeli army.

At least one building collapsed, and images showed crowds searching the rubble. At least three people have been killed and more than 20 others injured, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

This escalation happens just hours before a ceasefire could be announced. Israel has also carried out attacks in the south of the country, while Hezbollah has continued to fire rockets into Israel.