Leaders from nine Mediterranean countries have united in their plea to halt the ongoing violence in Gaza and Lebanon.
In a recent statement, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized Israeli attacks on UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, labeling them as “unacceptable.” This sentiment was mirrored by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
These three nations contribute approximately 2,000 troops to the UNIFIL mission, which reported that Israeli tank fire resulted in injuries to two peacekeepers yesterday.
Today, they added that two more peacekeepers sustained injuries due to “explosions” near an observation tower.
Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez emphasized the need for an “end to all violence” targeting peacekeepers in Lebanon, with Meloni asserting, “This is simply not acceptable.”
Following this, the trio released a joint statement expressing their “outrage” over the injuries to peacekeepers, condemning the “attacks” as violations of Security Council Resolution 1701, which prescribes that only UN forces and Lebanon’s military should be present in southern Lebanon.
“These attacks are indefensible and must cease immediately,” the statement declared, also pressing for “an immediate cessation of hostilities.”
According to Israel’s military, its forces fired on a “threat,” subsequently hitting a UNIFIL post. Just a day prior, they had noted that their fire in the vicinity was aimed at Hezbollah fighters operating there.
Currently, there are 277 Irish personnel serving with UNIFIL in Lebanon, and the Defence Forces confirmed that none of them have been involved in any incidents with Israeli forces.
The necessity for a ceasefire remains pressing. Since last month, Israeli forces have ramped up operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon while simultaneously waging a war against Hamas militants in Gaza.
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides opened the recent summit, highlighting, “Just a few miles away from Cyprus, there’s turmoil. The situation is dire.”
This assembly, dubbed MED9, included leaders from Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, and King Abdullah II of Jordan for a day-long meeting in Paphos.
President Christodoulides reiterated that MED9 stands firmly against the hostilities engulfing Gaza and Lebanon and advocates for a revival of diplomatic discussions.
Macron weighed in, declaring, “This ceasefire is essential for both Gaza and Lebanon.”
The French president provoked ire from the Israeli government over the weekend by suggesting that nations should “halt the arms supply linked to the conflict in Gaza,” making clear that France was not partaking in such deliveries.
At the summit, he pointed out that “stopping the flow of weapons” was crucial to mitigating violence in these regions.
He clarified, “This is not an appeal to disarm Israel against any threats to its existence and its people, whom we consider friends.”
The leaders also deliberated on strategies to enhance aid to Gaza, with Jordan putting forth a new proposal.
“France will take part in this initiative,” Macron confirmed.
Lebanon, wrestling with its own crisis, has fervently urged the United Nations to call for an “immediate” ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, as violence has escalated, claiming over 1,200 lives and displacing more than a million people.
This urgent plea came in the wake of Israeli airstrikes in Beirut that targeted Hezbollah’s security chief, resulting in 22 deaths—the most lethal attack in the city since hostilities commenced.
In a televised speech, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced that the foreign ministry would seek a Security Council resolution demanding “a full and immediate cessation of hostilities.”
He underscored the necessity of having only the Lebanese military and peacekeepers as the armed forces active in the southern region, asserting that “Hezbollah concurs on this matter,” although the group has not publicly responded to his remarks.
Hezbollah, an influential armed faction, dominates significant areas in Lebanon, leaving previous governments unable to suppress its power.
Recent decades have seen a myriad of confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel, with the beleaguered Lebanese military struggling to assert itself in the face of militant control.
This escalation began after a year marked by cross-border skirmishes, with Israel intensifying strikes on Hezbollah’s positions and deploying ground troops into southern Lebanon to secure its northern border.
Since September 23, violence has claimed over 1,200 lives, according to reports compiled by the Lebanese health ministry. The most severely impacted regions predominantly house Shia Muslims, where Hezbollah has built a loyal following by offering protection and essential services amidst Lebanon’s enduring legacy of sectarian strife and corruption.
However, even Christian communities near the border find themselves caught in the line of fire.
“When Israel bombards, it’s as if it’s flying right over us; when Hezbollah retaliates, the same happens,” lamented a resident named Joseph Jarjour from the border village of Rmeish. “We’re just ordinary folks, unarmed and yearning for peace. War has never been our choice.”
Israel chose not to issue evacuation orders preceding the recent strikes.
Calls for a ceasefire continue to resonate. Prime Minister Mikati’s statements echo the growing chorus of voices advocating for de-escalation.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed hope for a diplomatic resolution to avert a broader conflict, supporting Lebanon’s efforts to rein in Hezbollah’s influence.
“It’s evident that the Lebanese populace harbors a strong interest in the state reclaiming its authority and managing the country’s trajectory,” he noted.
In a direct address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the Lebanese people to rise against Hezbollah to escape a fate akin to that of Hamas-governed Gaza.
“Free your land from Hezbollah; it is imperative for this conflict to conclude,” Netanyahu asserted.
Meanwhile, the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, charged with monitoring border areas, finds itself under scrutiny.
In central Beirut, residents—some in tears—were surveying their homes for damages while seeking news about their neighbors following an attack that specifically targeted Hezbollah’s security chief, resulting in numerous fatalities.
A source familiar with Hezbollah shared, “The head of Hezbollah’s security apparatus, Wafiq Safa, was the target of this assault.” Safa was closely aligned with Hezbollah’s late leader Hassan Nasrallah, who perished last month in an Israeli strike.
Local inhabitants expressed shock at the brutal nature of the assault.
“Families reside here,” said Bilal Othman, a community member, “many of them displaced from southern Lebanon. Do they (Israel) wish to convey that there’s no safe haven left in this nation?”
Retaliation seems imminent. Hezbollah has fired upon Israel in solidarity with Hamas following the devastating attack on October 7, the deadliest incident in Israel’s recent history.
Israel has vowed to obliterate Hamas and rescue hostages taken in the October assault.
Despite Hamas’s diminished strength in Gaza, Netanyahu pledged to fortify Israel’s northern frontier with Lebanon, facilitating the return of tens of thousands of Israelis displaced by cross-border violence.
In light of Lebanon’s ongoing political and economic turmoil, Hezbollah’s grip on the country has only intensified over the years.
The failure of Lebanese institutions to uphold basic governance is starkly illustrated by the Beirut port explosion in 2020, which claimed over 200 lives, yet has seen no accountability.
Israel has also declared intention to retaliate against Iran in response to a missile strike last week, with Iran asserting that it stands “fully prepared to defend its sovereignty” against any aggressors.
President Biden has warned Israel against aspirations to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, firmly opposing attacks on oil infrastructure.
Edited by: Ali Musa
Axadle international–Monitoring
