White House Calls for Immediate Ceasefire on Israel-Lebanon Border
The United States and France have come to an agreement to call for a ceasefire on the Israel-Lebanon border, as reported in a statement from the White House. Joining this joint statement are the European Union, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The statement declared the ongoing situation between Lebanon and Israel since October 8, 2023 as intolerable and unacceptable, posing a risk of heightened regional tension. It emphasized that this situation is not in the interests of either Israel or the Lebanese people.
Calling for an immediate 21-day ceasefire on the Israel-Lebanon border to allow space for diplomacy, the statement stressed the need for de-escalation to pave the way for successful diplomatic efforts. It urged both the Israeli and Lebanese governments to support this temporary ceasefire proposal in alignment with United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution 1701.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin condemned the Israeli attacks in Lebanon that have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people, while Anneliese Dodds, Secretary of State for Development at the British Foreign Office, expressed deep concern over the situation in Lebanon.
In response to the conflict, Egypt has advised its citizens to avoid traveling to Lebanon and urged those currently in the country to steer clear of areas affected by the attacks. In Lebanon, the start of the academic year in public schools has been postponed until October 14 due to escalating tensions between Hezbollah and Israel.
As tensions continue to rise in the region, various countries and international organizations are calling for immediate action to de-escalate the situation and create space for diplomatic resolutions.
