The European Union, the United States, France, and eight other nations called for an immediate 21-day cease-fire along the Israel-Lebanon border, saying the conflict there “is intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation.”
A joint statement said the cease-fire would allow for negotiations toward a diplomatic settlement consistent with existing United Nations Security Council resolutions that call for a cessation of hostilities between Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah militant group, as well as implementing a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar also joined the cease-fire call, which said a broader regional conflict “is in nobody’s interest, neither of the people of Israel nor the people of Lebanon.”
“We are then prepared to fully support all diplomatic efforts to conclude an agreement between Lebanon and Israel within this period, building on efforts over the last months, that end this crisis altogether,” the statement said.
The developments come after some of the deadliest days in Lebanon since its civil war ended in the early 1990s.
Israel’s military said Thursday it carried out airstrikes on 75 Hezbollah targets in southern and eastern Lebanon, including weapons storage facilities and rocket launchers.
Lebanese health officials said Israeli strikes killed 50 people on Wednesday, bringing the death toll since Monday to 615 people, with more than 2,000 wounded.
Israel’s army chief said Wednesday his troops should be prepared for a possible ground invasion of Lebanon, as Israeli fighter jets bombarded Hezbollah militant targets for a third straight day and the militants launched a ballistic missile targeting the headquarters of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency near Tel Aviv, which Israel shot down.
