On Monday 13 April, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that continued strikes in Lebanon could derail the entire ceasefire process in the Middle East.
“Security is indivisible. You cannot have stability in the Middle East or the Gulf while Lebanon is in flames”, she explained at the end of a Security Council meeting devoted to the Middle East and the consequences of the war for the EU.
Mrs von der Leyen called on all parties to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty and implement a comprehensive ceasefire.
While the EU is currently mobilising ReliefEU stocks to provide immediate aid to the Lebanese people, “no amount of aid can replace the safety of a permanent peace”, said the President.
In New York, before the United Nations Security Council, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, said that the war should end “as soon as possible”.
On Monday, Israel continued its campaign against Hezbollah and announced that it had completed the “encirclement” of the town of Bint Jbeil, considered by Israel to be Hezbollah’s capital.
Talks are scheduled for Tuesday between Lebanese and Israeli representatives in Washington, with a view to opening direct negotiations for a ceasefire. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)