International Call for 21-Day Ceasefire in Israel-Lebanon Conflict
A coalition of nations, including the United States, France, and several Arab and European countries, has issued a joint call for an immediate 21-day ceasefire across the Israel-Lebanon border, Al Jazeera reports.
The ceasefire would encompass the Blue Line, the demarcation line between the two countries, and aims to provide a window for negotiations towards a diplomatic resolution of the ongoing conflict.
The call comes after intense discussions at the United Nations, where UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a stark warning, declaring that “hell is breaking loose” in Lebanon and emphasizing the need to avoid an all-out war “at all costs.”
“To all sides, let’s say in one clear voice: Stop the killing and destruction, tone down the rhetoric and threats, and step back from the brink,” he urged.
The countries supporting the ceasefire include Qatar, Australia, Canada, the European Union, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
While the proposal has been met with support from various international actors, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to issue a response, indicating his government is not yet ready to accept the proposed pause in hostilities. Netanyahu is currently in New York for the UN General Assembly, and has instructed the Israeli military to continue fighting.
“The world is speaking clearly for virtually all of the key countries in Europe and in the region on the need for the ceasefire,” US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said.
The ceasefire proposal has also been met with mixed reactions within Israel. Yair Lapid, the leader of the Israeli opposition, has called for the government to accept the proposal, albeit for a shorter duration of seven days.
Meanwhile, the situation on the ground remains dire. Israel widened its air strikes in Lebanon on Wednesday, resulting in at least 72 deaths, pushing the overall death toll from Israel’s bombings above 620. The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs estimates that nearly 500,000 people have been displaced across the country due to the conflict.
