The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon is worsening as the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah shows no signs of abating. Despite a joint proposal from the U.S. and its allies for a 21-day cease-fire to facilitate diplomatic negotiations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has downplayed the likelihood of an imminent truce.
As reported by the Chicago Tribune, the Israeli military is preparing for a potential ground incursion into Lebanon. Recently, the Israeli military intercepted a Hezbollah missile aimed at Tel Aviv, escalating the conflict further. Airstrikes have continued unabated, with at least 51 people killed and 223 others injured in Lebanon, according to the health minister.
President Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron have called for an immediate cease-fire to ensure civilian safety. “It is time for a settlement on the Israel-Lebanon border that ensures safety and security to enable civilians to return to their homes,” Biden stated.
However, Netanyahu’s office released a statement indicating that the cease-fire proposal was still under consideration and that there had been no directive to ease the military offensive on the northern border with Lebanon.
Hezbollah has not responded to the cease-fire proposal. Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has welcomed the initiative, although his government has no control over Hezbollah. The militant group has stated it would only halt its attacks if there is a cease-fire in Gaza, where Israel has been fighting Hamas.
Internal political tensions are also rising within Israel. Itamar Ben-Gvir, head of the Jewish Power party, has threatened to suspend cooperation with Netanyahu’s coalition if a permanent cease-fire is reached.
The conflict’s toll is severe. Israeli airstrikes killed 20 people in Lebanon, most of them Syrian nationals. The Lebanese National News Agency reported that the strike near Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley killed 19 Syrians and one Lebanese. Rescue efforts were hampered by limited resources.
In Gaza, Israel launched a massive operation following a Hamas-led attack on October 7, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and around 250 kidnappings. Since then, more than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza.
Families of Israeli hostages are advocating for any cease-fire agreement to include provisions for their release. Gil Dickmann, whose cousin was kidnapped and later found dead in Gaza, emphasized the importance of addressing both the Gaza and Lebanon situations in a comprehensive cease-fire deal.
As the international community closely monitors the situation, the success of the cease-fire proposal remains uncertain. Israel faces both external and internal pressures as it navigates this complex conflict.
