After intense discussions at the UN on Wednesday, the US, France, and several allies expressed support for a ceasefire in Gaza. They urged an immediate 21-day truce along the Israel-Lebanon border.
A senior Biden administration official stated that the ceasefire would extend to the “Blue Line,” the border between Israel and Lebanon. This would allow talks to begin toward a possible diplomatic settlement of the dispute.
The White House released a joint statement from the nations stating, “We call on all parties, including the governments of Israel and Lebanon, to endorse the temporary ceasefire immediately.”
Allies including Australia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the European Union signed the joint declaration.
According to a Reuters compilation of testimonies from the Lebanese health ministry, Israel expanded its attacks in Lebanon on Wednesday, killing at least 72 people. According to the government, at least 223 people were hurt.
A future ground invasion was hinted at by Israel’s military chief, adding to concerns that this fight would lead to a larger war in the Middle East.
According to the senior White House official, Washington has been in contact with authorities in Israel and Lebanon for the past few months in an effort to lower tensions.
The official stated, “We have had those discussions for quite some time,” and added that the goal of Washington and its partners during this 21-day ceasefire period was to turn those negotiations into a more comprehensive accord.
The official said Biden had been focused on the possibility of a ceasefire “in almost every conversation he had with world leaders” during the United Nations General Assembly this week.
Based on discussions with Israelis and Lebanese, the U.S. and its allies felt this was the right time for a call for a ceasefire, the official added.
Prior to a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, told reporters that his country would welcome a ceasefire and would prefer a diplomatic settlement. The Security Council was then informed by him that Iran was the source of the violence in the area and that eliminating the threat was necessary for peace.
Before the council meeting, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told reporters that his nation backed Hezbollah and would not remain idle as the situation in Lebanon worsened.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati praised the call for a ceasefire. He stated that its implementation depends on Israel’s commitment to upholding international resolutions. When questioned previously about the likelihood of a truce, Mikati said to Reuters, “Hopefully, yes.”
As the number of deaths in Lebanon increased and thousands fled their homes, world leaders expressed alarm. They warned that the battle, which was escalating alongside Israel’s war in Gaza against Iranian-backed Palestinian Hamas fighters, was worsening rapidly.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, was scheduled to land in New York on Thursday and give a speech to the UN General Assembly on Friday.
CONFLICT IN LEBANON PUTS PRESSURE ON BIDEN AND HARRIS
For almost a year, the US administration has been making fruitless attempts to broker a truce in Gaza.
The violence in Lebanon has increased pressure on US President Joe Biden’s administration to find a diplomatic solution. This has hurt Biden’s political standing and Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential candidacy.
Israel destroyed a missile on Wednesday that Hezbollah, backed by Iran, claimed was targeting the Mossad intelligence agency’s headquarters. The missile was reportedly headed for a location near Tel Aviv, Israel’s capital.
According to Israeli sources, a powerful missile was shot down after it was aimed towards residential parts of Tel Aviv rather than the Mossad headquarters.
General Herzi Halevi addressed Israeli troops on the border with Lebanon, “You hear the jets overhead; we have been striking all day,” according to a military statement.
“This is both to prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah.” According to a Pentagon spokesman, there was no sign of an impending Israeli ground invasion.
According to its foreign minister, up to 500,000 people may have been forced from their homes in Lebanon. Thousands of refugees from southern Lebanon who had been displaced were taking refuge in schools and other facilities in Beirut.
HEZBOLLAH LEADERS TARGETED BY ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES
Israeli bombings have targeted Hezbollah commanders this week, striking hundreds of locations deep within Lebanon. These attacks have forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee the border region as the organization fires rockets into Israel.
On Wednesday, thousands of people attended the funeral of two senior Hezbollah commanders. The commanders were killed the day before by Israeli strikes in the suburbs of Beirut. A band played while fighters in fatigues carried the coffins shrouded in flags. Many in the audience sobbed while chanting pro-Hezbollah phrases.
Israel announced its preparation of two additional reserve brigades for operations on the northern border. It also stated that its airplanes were targeting Hezbollah strongholds in the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon.
Netanyahu declared that Hezbollah was suffering greater losses than it had ever anticipated. In a video message, he offered no commentary on diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire.
Since the conflict broke out in October between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Israel’s top objective has been to secure its northern border. This will allow over 70,000 residents, who were forced to flee their homes due to almost daily gunfire, to return.
Since Monday, Lebanon experienced its deadliest day since the end of its civil war in 1990, with over 550 people killed by Israeli bombing. Hospitals across the country have overflowed with injured patients.
Click here for more World news.