Germany Group of states calls for three-week ceasefire in the Middle East
By calling for a 21-day ceasefire in the Middle East, a group of states led by the USA and Germany, together with important Arab countries, is increasing the pressure on Israel and Hezbollah.
26.09.2024, 04:52
SDA
The ceasefire should create space for a diplomatic solution to the conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon and the Gaza war, which has been going on for almost a year, according to a joint statement by the group of ten states and the EU.
A major regional escalation is in nobody's interest, neither the people of Israel nor the people of Lebanon, it continues. Diplomacy cannot succeed if the conflict escalates. All parties are urged to endorse the proposal for a temporary ceasefire and thus give a diplomatic agreement a real chance. The statement was issued jointly by the USA, Germany, the EU, Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
Proposal by the USA and France
Their collective appeal is based on an initiative by the USA and France. US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron had previously stated in a joint statement that it was time for an agreement on the Israeli-Lebanese border that would guarantee security so that civilians could return to their homes. In view of the fighting since October last year and especially in the past two weeks, there was a threat of a much greater conflict and damage to the civilian population. That is why they have been working on a joint call for a temporary ceasefire.
Biden: Diplomatic solution is the only way
In his speech to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Biden warned against a further escalation of the conflict between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia. "An all-out war is in nobody's interest," he said. A diplomatic solution is still the only way to achieve lasting security in the Middle East.
The situation in the region has been extremely tense for a long time, and the armed clashes between Israel and Hezbollah have recently exacerbated the situation. Obviously coordinated explosions and Israeli air strikes have killed hundreds of people in Lebanon, while Hezbollah has fired rockets at northern Israel in particular and, most recently, at the greater Tel Aviv area for the first time. Israel's Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said that the army was also preparing for a possible ground offensive.
The Israeli attacks are intended to persuade Hezbollah to withdraw from the border area. Meanwhile, the war between Israel's army and the terrorist organization Hamas, which is allied with Hezbollah and also supported by Iran, continues in the Gaza Strip. Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced.
