The United States, European Union, Canada, Australia, Japan, and several European and Arab countries on Wednesday urged an “immediate 21-day ceasefire” in Lebanon, where the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah threatens to engulf the entire region. The statement, released by the White House, was reported by AFP on Thursday.
“We call for an immediate 21-day ceasefire at the Lebanon-Israel border to give diplomacy a chance,” reads the joint statement signed by the U.S., France, the EU, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar.
“It is time to reach a diplomatic agreement that will allow civilians on both sides of the border to return home in full security,” the statement adds.
In a separate joint statement following their meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed they had “worked together in recent days” to reach this common call for a temporary ceasefire, which other nations have already supported.
“We urge broad approval and immediate support from the governments of Israel and Lebanon,” the leaders stated.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot first introduced the proposal earlier on Wednesday during an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council concerning Lebanon.
A senior U.S. official, speaking anonymously, hailed the call as a “significant step forward” and expressed hope that it would also “stimulate” discussions for a ceasefire and the release of hostages from the Gaza Strip.
