EU Diplomacy Pushes for Ceasefire Between Israel and Hezbollah in U.S.-French Deal

In a statement made on Tuesday, Josep Borrell, the European Union’s top diplomat, emphasized that Israel had no justification for refusing to agree to a ceasefire with Hezbollah, as all of Israel’s security concerns had been addressed in the proposed deal brokered by the U.S. and France.

Borrell, speaking from a Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers’ meeting in Fiuggi, Italy, called for greater pressure on Israel to accept the agreement, urging that extremist factions within the Israeli government should not hinder the process. He warned that failure to implement the ceasefire would lead to the collapse of Lebanon.

From left, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Britain’s Foreign Office Political Director Christian Turner, and European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell pose for a family photo at the G7 of foreign Ministers in Fiuggi, some 70 kilometers south-east of Rome, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool)

Despite the proposed deal, which includes a U.S.-led ceasefire implementation committee with France’s participation at Lebanon’s request, Israeli officials remained cautious. They indicated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security Cabinet was scheduled to meet to deliberate over the terms, particularly focusing on Israel’s right to take action if Hezbollah breaches the ceasefire.

The ceasefire discussions come amid a prolonged conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which escalated after the October 2023 Hamas attacks. The conflict has seen devastating impacts, including more than 3,500 deaths in Lebanon and extensive destruction, while Israel has also suffered casualties from rocket and missile attacks.

The G7 foreign ministers meeting also addressed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with Borrell proposing that the U.N. Security Council take immediate action to ensure aid reaches Palestinians. He noted that while the two-state solution remained a longer-term objective, urgent assistance for Gaza was critical in the short term.

Additionally, Borrell expressed concern about the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, a subject raised during the G7 talks. Despite disagreements from the U.S. and Israel regarding the ICC’s actions, Borrell reiterated the importance of respecting international law.

The meeting, which also touched on the ongoing war in Ukraine, reaffirmed Western support for Kyiv, particularly in light of Russia’s recent escalations in the conflict.