The United States and France are set to announce the conclusion of a ceasefire in Lebanon after several weeks of intense negotiations. According to a report released by Reuters on Tuesday, American Presidents Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron have held incessant discussions in order to put an end to the hostilities that have shaken the country since September 2024.
A ceasefire in the making targeted by the international community would aim to calm the increasingly violent clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, while promoting a return to peace and stability in the region.
However, the situation in Gaza still remains largely beyond the reach of any immediate solution, and there is no indication that a ceasefire agreement is in the works in this sector.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby said significant progress had been made in the Lebanon negotiations, saying: “We are close, but nothing is certain until everything is resolved.” is not concluded. » This statement underlines the caution that guides the discussions, despite the tangible progress.
Read also: The G20 supports a “ceasefire” in Gaza and Lebanon
At the same time, Israeli airstrikes continued to hit southern Beirut, particularly the suburbs where the attacks targeted strategic infrastructure, exacerbating the suffering of the civilian population. These strikes come as peace talks continue behind the scenes, adding a tragic dimension to a conflict already marked by considerable human losses.
The Israeli government, represented by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, has refrained from any official comment regarding the possibility of a ceasefire agreement. However, an Israeli official indicated that the cabinet meeting scheduled for that day would focus specifically on reviewing and approving the truce proposal. This meeting is crucial and could mark a turning point in the conflict.
This news comes just days after another major diplomatic development shook the international scene. Indeed, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. These warrants relate to serious accusations of war crimes committed in Gaza. The European Court found that there were “reasonable grounds to believe” that these two Israeli officials had participated in war crimes, including the use of starvation as a method of warfare, murder, persecution, as well as other “inhumane acts” during the period from October 8, 2023 to May 20, 2024.
The ongoing violence between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as the ongoing fighting in Gaza, has taken a heavy human toll. The death toll from the current conflicts stands at more than 3,700 deaths in Lebanon, mainly among civilians. At the same time, the number of victims in the Palestinian territories now exceeds 44,000, a figure which includes a majority of women and children. The suffering of civilian populations, caught between regional and international powers, is intensifying every day.
The international community, although divided on the issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, seems to unite in the face of the scale of the Lebanese tragedy. The joint diplomatic efforts of the United States and France demonstrate a desire to stabilize the region, but also to contain a humanitarian crisis that could quickly spread beyond Lebanon’s borders. In this context, the question of the ceasefire takes on crucial importance, not only for peace in Lebanon, but also for the entire Middle East.
