U.S. and France Propose Ceasefire in Israel-Hezbollah Conflict \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ France and the United States are working on a 21-day ceasefire proposal to deescalate the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The plan aims to halt the violence that has claimed over 600 lives in Lebanon and create space for negotiations. U.S. and French officials are urging both sides to accept the proposal quickly as they work with regional partners.
U.S., France Propose 21-Day Ceasefire to Deescalate Israel-Hezbollah Conflict Quick Looks:
- France and the United States are collaborating on a 21-day ceasefire plan to stop escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah.
- France’s foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, urged both parties to accept the proposal, hoping to pave the way for negotiations.
- U.S. diplomats, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have been actively lobbying other nations at the U.N. General Assembly to support the ceasefire.
- The U.S. aims to stabilize the Israel-Lebanon border, where fighting has intensified, displacing thousands on both sides.
- Hezbollah has launched missiles, including a deep strike on Tel Aviv, and Israel is preparing for potential ground operations in Lebanon.
- Hezbollah stated it would not cease fire unless a Gaza truce is achieved, complicating the ceasefire efforts.
- President Joe Biden warned of the risk of “all-out war” but sees this moment as an opportunity for regional peace.
- U.S. officials continue to meet with Israeli and Lebanese representatives to refine the proposal, hoping to broker a longer-term diplomatic solution.
- Biden’s national security team, including Jake Sullivan, Brett McGurk, and Amos Hochstein, is actively engaged with Middle Eastern allies in the negotiations.
- The U.S. also applied pressure on Iran, imposing additional sanctions related to illicit petroleum shipments benefiting Hezbollah and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
Deep Look:
France and the United States have teamed up in a significant diplomatic push to broker a 21-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, aiming to halt the spiraling violence that has killed more than 600 people in Lebanon in just a few days. French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot presented the ceasefire plan at the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday, calling for immediate acceptance from both parties. This joint effort represents the latest attempt by international actors to prevent a broader war from breaking out in the Middle East.
Barrot highlighted that France, a former colonial power in Lebanon, and the United States have been consulting extensively with both sides of the conflict to finalize the ceasefire terms. He emphasized that war is not inevitable, and diplomacy should be given a chance. While the proposal’s specifics were not detailed during the meeting, U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood also confirmed that both nations are working closely to create a path for negotiations, though he avoided elaborating on the final elements of the deal.
The U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has been deeply involved in these efforts, spending the last few days lobbying world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly alongside other high-ranking officials. According to U.S. officials, Blinken and his team, including key advisors to President Joe Biden, have been working tirelessly to bring the conflict’s warring parties to the negotiating table. Blinken emphasized that the U.S. administration is “intensely engaged” in deescalating tensions in Lebanon, driven by the understanding that war will only further destabilize the region.
This ceasefire proposal, however, is only the latest chapter in the long-standing volatility of the Israel-Lebanon border, an area frequently caught in crossfire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group. Months of tit-for-tat exchanges have led to escalating violence, including cross-border missile strikes and air raids. These tensions have displaced tens of thousands of civilians, forcing them to flee their homes in both northern Israel and southern Lebanon.
President Joe Biden’s national security team, led by Jake Sullivan, Brett McGurk, and Amos Hochstein, has been playing a central role in the negotiations. These officials have been in continuous discussions with Middle East allies and Israeli officials about the ceasefire proposal. Their goal is not just to stop the immediate violence but also to create a framework for longer-term stability along the fraught border. McGurk and Hochstein, in particular, have been acting as the main White House envoys to Israel and Lebanon following the outbreak of hostilities on October 7, when Hamas—another Iranian-backed group—launched deadly raids into southern Israel.
An Israeli official confirmed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had approved pursuing a possible ceasefire, but under strict conditions. Specifically, Israel demands that any ceasefire agreement must ensure the safe return of Israeli civilians to their homes, a key issue given the displacement caused by Hezbollah’s rocket attacks. This official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing diplomacy, indicated that Israel is prepared to back the ceasefire if these terms are met.
In Lebanon, a government official described the ongoing diplomatic efforts as “very serious,” noting that a ceasefire could take effect as early as Thursday. The official stressed that these negotiations are far from wishful thinking, as they reflect genuine attempts to halt the fighting. However, Hezbollah’s position complicates matters—Hezbollah has made it clear that it will not stop its rocket fire until there is a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, where Israeli forces have been engaged in an offensive against Hamas.
The linkage between the Lebanon-Israel conflict and the ongoing Gaza war is a critical sticking point. While Hezbollah has indicated it is unwilling to separate the two fronts, neither Lebanese nor Hezbollah officials have specified how the proposed ceasefire might address the Gaza situation. This has left a critical ambiguity in the negotiations, as any effort to stop fighting in Lebanon may ultimately hinge on broader developments in Gaza.
Earlier on Wednesday, President Biden made a sobering appearance on ABC’s The View, warning that “an all-out war is possible” if diplomacy fails. However, Biden also expressed hope, saying that the situation offers a rare opportunity for a regional settlement that could fundamentally reshape the dynamics of the Middle East. He suggested that a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah could also pave the way for peace talks in Gaza, where the conflict between Israel and Hamas has claimed tens of thousands of lives since the October 7 raids by Hamas fighters killed approximately 1,200 Israelis.
The U.S. government has attempted for months to broker a ceasefire in Gaza, though these efforts have largely stalled. A ceasefire there would likely be linked to the release of hostages held by Hamas, adding another layer of complexity to the negotiations. Still, Biden remains committed to finding a diplomatic solution, telling The View audience that “there’s a desire to see change in the region.”
Adding pressure to the situation, the U.S. announced new sanctions on Wednesday, targeting over a dozen ships and entities involved in the illicit shipment of Iranian petroleum. These shipments are believed to financially benefit both Hezbollah and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, further fueling the conflict. The new sanctions are part of a broader U.S. strategy to weaken Hezbollah’s operational capabilities by cutting off its funding sources.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military has been bracing for a possible ground operation in Lebanon, as Hezbollah continues to launch dozens of projectiles into Israeli territory. The militant group’s attacks included a missile aimed at Tel Aviv, marking its deepest strike into Israel yet. Israel’s army chief announced on Wednesday that preparations for a ground invasion are underway, highlighting the growing risk of an all-out regional war.
As the situation intensifies, Blinken reiterated the U.S. stance that a diplomatic solution is the only way to restore stability along the Israel-Lebanon border. “It would be through a diplomatic agreement that has forces pulled back from the border, creates a secure environment, and allows people to return home,” Blinken told NBC News. The path to peace, however, remains fraught with challenges as both sides weigh their next moves.
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