The U.S., its allies in Europe, and several Arab nations have jointly proposed a 21-day cease-fire to halt the recent deadly clashes between Israel and Hezbollah. The proposal aims to provide a window for further diplomatic negotiations, according to statements released yesterday.
President Biden, alongside President Emmanuel Macron of France, emphasized the need for immediate action. “It is time for a settlement on the Israel-Lebanon border that ensures safety and security to enable civilians to return to their homes,” Biden stated. The diplomatic push follows an incident where the Israeli military intercepted a Hezbollah missile aimed at Tel Aviv.
Despite these efforts, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to downplay the likelihood of an imminent truce. In a statement issued while en route to the U.N. General Assembly in New York, his office said that the proposal was still under consideration and that there had been no directive to ease the military offensive on the northern border with Lebanon.
As reported by the Chicago Tribune, the Israeli military has been instructed to prepare for a potential ground incursion into Lebanon. The situation is dire, with at least 51 people killed and 223 others wounded in recent airstrikes, according to Lebanon’s health minister.
Hezbollah has not yet responded to the cease-fire proposal. Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has shown support for the initiative, though his government holds no sway over Hezbollah. The militant group has stated it would only halt its attacks if there is a cease-fire in Gaza, where Israel has been engaged in a prolonged conflict with Hamas.
The Israeli Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, maintains that the fight will continue with full force until all objectives are met. Meanwhile, internal political tensions are rising, with Itamar Ben-Gvir, head of the Jewish Power party, threatening to suspend cooperation with the coalition if a permanent cease-fire is reached.
The conflict’s toll is severe, with Israeli airstrikes killing 20 people in Lebanon, most of them Syrian nationals. The Lebanese National News Agency reported that the strike near Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley killed 19 Syrians and one Lebanese. Rescue efforts were described as difficult, with limited resources available for recovery operations.
Israel has launched a massive operation in Gaza following a Hamas-led attack into southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the kidnapping of around 250 individuals. Since then, more than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza.
The families of Israeli hostages are advocating for any cease-fire agreement to include provisions for their release. Gil Dickmann, whose cousin was kidnapped and later found dead in Gaza, stressed the importance of integrating the situations in both Gaza and Lebanon into a comprehensive cease-fire deal.
As the international community watches closely, the success of the proposed cease-fire remains uncertain. The Israeli government, facing both external and internal pressures, must navigate a complex landscape to find a resolution.