US, France and allies call for 21-day ceasefire along Israel-Lebanon border after UN talks

French President Emmanuel Macron (L) speaks with Prime Minister of Lebanon Najib Mikati on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 25 September 2024. (Ludovic Marin/AFP)

• The United States, France, and several allies have called
  for a 21-day ceasefire along the Israel-Lebanon border and in Gaza.
•  This ceasefire
  call follows discussions held at the United Nations.
• The ceasefire aims to halt hostilities and foster
  negotiations towards a diplomatic resolution, amid escalating violence.

The United States, France and several allies called for an
immediate 21-day ceasefire across the Israel-Lebanon border while also
expressing support for a ceasefire in Gaza following intense discussions at the
United Nations on Wednesday.

The ceasefire would apply to the Israel-Lebanon “Blue
Line,” the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel, and would allow
the parties to negotiate towards a potential diplomatic resolution of the
conflict, a senior Biden administration official said.

“We call on all parties, including the governments of
Israel and Lebanon, to endorse the temporary ceasefire immediately,”
according to a joint statement of the countries released by the White House.

The allies that signed the joint statement included
Australia, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and the European Union.

Israel widened its airstrikes in Lebanon on Wednesday and at
least 72 people were killed, according to a Reuters compilation of Lebanese
health ministry statements. The ministry earlier said at least 223 were
wounded.

READ | from-the-air-20240925″ target=”_blank”>Israel talks about Lebanon ground invasion while pounding it from the air

Israel’s military chief said a ground assault was possible,
raising fears the conflict could spark a wider Middle East war.

Over the last several months, Washington has been engaging
with officials in Israel and Lebanon to reduce hostilities, the senior White
House official said.

“We have had those discussions for quite some
time,” the official said, adding Washington and its allies were aiming to
convert those discussions into a broader agreement during this 21-day ceasefire
period.

The official said Biden had been focused on the possibility
of a ceasefire “in almost every conversation he had with world
leaders” at the United Nations General Assembly this week.

Based on discussions with Israelis and Lebanese, the US and its allies felt this was the right time for a call for a ceasefire, the
official added.

Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon told reporters before a UN
Security Council meeting on Wednesday that Israel would welcome a ceasefire and
preferred a diplomatic solution. He then told the Security Council that Iran
was the nexus of violence in the region and peace required dismantling the
threat.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told reporters before
the council meeting that his country supported Hezbollah and would not remain
indifferent if the conflict in Lebanon spiraled.

READ | World leaders at UN warn against ‘full-scale war’ over Lebanon

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the call for a
ceasefire, saying the key to its implementation is whether Israel is committed
to enforcing international resolutions. Asked earlier if a ceasefire could be
reached soon, Mikati told Reuters: “Hopefully, yes.”

World leaders voiced concern that the conflict – running in
parallel to Israel’s war in Gaza against Palestinian Hamas militants also
backed by Iran – was escalating rapidly as the death toll rose in Lebanon and
thousands fled their homes.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was due to arrive
in New York on Thursday and address the UN General Assembly on Friday.