Leaders of nine EU countries call for immediate ceasefire in Lebanon

The leaders of the nine southern countries of the European Union (EU) met in the coastal city of Paphos in Cyprus this Friday and called for a ceasefire in the Middle East. Concern over increasing violence Between Israel and Hezbollah. “We call for an immediate ceasefire along the Blue Line and the timely delivery of humanitarian aid to Lebanon,” the Lebanese governments said in a joint statement. Cyprus, Croatia, Slovenia, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Malta and Portugal.

The 120-kilometre Blue Line in southern Lebanon was established by the United Nations in 2000. “Demarcation of withdrawal” of Israeli troops.

Cyprus, an island country located 250 kilometers from Lebanon, hosted the MED9 summit, which was attended by the heads of state or government of its nine member states. Jordan’s King Abdullah II and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also attended the meeting, which focused on the situation in the Middle East and immigration.

The joint statement also condemned the rocket attack by the Lebanese Shia militia Hezbollah towards Israel, Also the recent missile attack from iran and terrorist attacks from hamas On October 7, 2023. The leaders expressed their support for the United Nations Blue Helmets Force for Lebanon (FINUL), which is deployed in Lebanon, and which has been the target of attacks by Israel.

Italy and France summoned the Israeli ambassadors to Rome and Paris on Thursday and this Friday, respectively, while Spain did the same with the charge d’affaires of the Israeli embassy in Madrid. Protest Israeli attacks on UN forces.

Regarding Gaza, European leaders condemned the large number of civilian casualties and called for Immediate application of resolution 2735 The Security Council, which advocates for a ceasefire and the safe delivery of humanitarian aid. French President Emmanuel Macron considered “unacceptable” Israel’s deliberate attack on Finul. “It is unacceptable that Finul soldiers have been deliberately attacked by Israeli soldiers,” Macron said in his speech at the end of a meeting of European leaders.

The French President also stressed his decision to suspend arms exports to the region “The call to disarm Israel is not against the threats faced by that country and its friendly peoples”, but to avoid further instability in the region.

Also the Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, Condemned as “unacceptable” Attack on Finul. Furthermore, he announced that “we are thinking of organizing a joint initiative” at the G7 defense summit in Naples next week. “Strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces”Although without giving details.

Sanchez calls for review of EU-Israel agreement The President of the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez, joined the condemnation and described as “absolutely unacceptable and completely unacceptable” what happened at the Finul headquarters, where the blue helmets were wounded by Israeli fire.

Sanchez urged the European Commission work continuously and stressed that if Israel does not respect international law and human rights, the principles on which its EU association agreement with Israel is based, “There is only one way: review that agreement.” The head of the Spanish government said, “The agreements must be fulfilled in their original spirit and this is the basis of our credibility before the world.”

In a joint statement issued by the governments of Spain, France and Italy, these three countries expressed their views. Outrage over Israeli attack on Finul Which he described as “unfair” and a “serious violation” of Israel’s obligations and international humanitarian law.

“These attacks constitute a Serious violation of Israel’s obligations Under UN Resolution 1701 and international humanitarian law, the statement said, the attacks “must end immediately.” With that resolution, the UN Security Council agreed to disengage troops as part of an international peace accord in Lebanon in 2006.

The current escalation of war in the region began a year ago, when the Islamist group Hamas killed 1,200 people in terrorist attacks and abducted more than 240 in Israeli territory. Israel’s response was a military offensive into the Palestinian Gaza Strip, which has so far caused more than 42,000 deaths and 96,000 injuries, according to figures from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry.

This also includes clashes between the Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israeli armed forces, which launched a ground campaign in southern Lebanon on October 1 and bombed Beirut multiple times.