Last month on September 23, large swatches of Lebanon witnessed the deadliest day for the country in two decades. As Israel launched an intense barrage of air strikes targeting powerful Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, and alongside killing more than 500 people including women and children; terror, fear and despair gripped the nation.
More strikes followed in the days to come and as Israel continues to bomb Lebanon with a death toll surpassing 700 on Friday, the world scrambles to take a clear stance and find the right words. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country, “is changing the balance of power” on its northern front.
The US, France, Canada, Australia, Japan, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia backed a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon, but Netanyahu confirmed the worst fears of political activists and said that Israel’s military offensive would not pause.
On Thursday, speaking ahead of his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Netanyahu dismissed the diplomatic pressure from the United States and European allies. A day later while actually taking the rostrum for his speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday, Netanyahu maintained his stance and dashed any faint hopes of a three-week ceasefire proposed by France and the United States.
Netanyahu’s speech, wherein he repeatedly emphasised Hezbollah as anti-Israel and his justification for launching the strikes on Lebanon, was met with jeers by some delegates.
“As long as Hezbollah chooses war, we have no choice and every right to remove this threat and have our citizens safe,” he said. Delegates from Lebanon, Iran and Palestine exited the room in protest as Netanyahu took to the rostrum.
Diplomatic pressure mounts, but Israel does not cave in
Calling the bombing of Lebanon a part of its “new phase” of the war on Gaza, earlier in the week the Israeli army said it struck more than 1,000 targets in Lebanon, claiming them to be Hezbollah strongholds. As Israel seemed unshakable, soon after the speech, the critics lambasted the US administration for its failure to put pressure on Israel, its top ally in the Middle East, to end the attacks in Gaza and now Lebanon.
Israel took a U turn on ceasefire?
Reportedly, the primary reason for Netanyahu’s visit to the UN General Assembly was the diplomatic talks over the situation in Lebanon. Earlier, Israel’s local media had reported while quoting officials at Netayahu’s office that there “was a greenlight for a ceasefire” with Hezbollah.
Lebanon’s PM Mikati had also welcomed the international diplomatic push for a 21-day ceasefire across the Israel-Lebanon border and had even sounded ‘hopeful’ of such a deal. “But any ceasefire agreement depends on whether Israel is interested in enforcing international resolutions.” he had been quoted as saying.
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and China
In a sudden and highly escalated situation in the Middle East, as Israel bombs Lebanon, it finds itself criticized by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and China. After October 7 last year, as Israel bombed Gaza and the humanitarian crisis mounted, South Africa brought a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
At the time, several countries welcomed the move amidst global calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. At the UN General Assembly in New York this year, Jordan’s king, Qatari Emir and presidents of South Africa and Colombia denounced Israeli atrocities in Gaza
Meanwhile, the death toll mounts
Israel dismissed global calls for a ceasefire with Hezbollah and continued with its bombing. The Israeli military on Tuesday announced that it’s begun ground operations in southern Lebanon. Air attacks continued across the country, including in the town of Daoudiya.
Evacuation warnings were issued to residents of Beirut suburbs as the IDF continued manoeuvring into several villages. In a formal statement, Hezbollah said that the group was prepared for Israel’s ‘ground incursion.’
The group's deputy chief Qassem said on Monday, that Hezbollah will continue with its goals despite the aggressive attacks by Israel and its aim of creating chaos and fear. He also said that Israeli forces were committing massacres against civilians. “The US is a partner of theirs and provides unlimited military support, culturally, politically, financially.”
US supports Israel, Modi calls for restraint
US Secretary of Defense Lyod Austin, in a call with his Israeli counterpart, warned Iran of “serious consequences” if it carried out a “direct military attack against Israel.” While India’s PM Modi on Monday, spoke to PM Netanyahu and stressed the need to avoid “regional escalation,” of the West Asian conflict. However, India also extended support for Israel’s fight against terrorism.
Can Israel afford another war?
Israel, which has been at war against Gaza for a year now, is battling one of its worst economic phases. With its military spending ballooning, borrowing skyrocketing, revenues drying up, international trust and investment waning, Israel stares in the face of a deepening economic crisis.
It also finds itself increasingly isolated on the world stage. Meanwhile, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has also claimed a third attack on Israel. The path for a ceasefire remains open before Israel. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday again stressed a ceasefire in Lebanon despite Israel ignoring diplomatic calls for the same.
“The choices that both parties make in the coming days will determine which path this region is on, with profound consequences for its people, now and possibly for years to come,” he said at a press conference. The conflict in the Middle East is set to spiral and deepen unless Israel’s allies can prevail over it.
Follow us
