UK joins allies in warning Israel against Lebanon ground assault
Israel's Gideon Sa'ar slams joint statement as 'a distorted view of reality'
The UK has backed a joint statement suggesting a “significant Israeli ground offensive” in Lebanon must be averted to avoid “devastating humanitarian consequences and could lead to a protracted conflict” in the Middle East.
In a statement also signed by the leaders of Canada, France, Germany and Italy, the five countries warned that “Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel and the targeting of civilians must cease and they must disarm.”
It added: “We condemn Hezbollah’s decision to join Iran in hostilities, which further jeopardises regional peace and security.”
Responding, Israel’s foreign affairs minister Gideon Sa’ar described the joint statement as “a distorted view of reality”.
In a move confirmed shortly after another often bizarre press conference by Donald Trump from the White House, the leaders of the five countries said: “A significant Israeli ground offensive would have devastating humanitarian consequences and could lead to a protracted conflict. It must be averted.
“The humanitarian situation in Lebanon, including ongoing mass displacement, is already deeply alarming.
“We reiterate our call for the full implementation of UNSC Resolution 1701 by all parties and support the efforts of the Government of Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah, prohibit Hezbollah’s military activities, and curb their armed hostilities. We stand in solidarity with the Lebanese government and people, who have been unwillingly drawn into conflict.”
The statement said the countries support efforts by the Lebanese government to disarm the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
“We are gravely concerned by the escalating violence in Lebanon and call for meaningful engagement by Israeli and Lebanese representatives to negotiate a sustainable political solution,” the countries said.
“We strongly support initiatives to facilitate talks and urge for immediate de-escalation.”
But in a post on X, Sa’ar criticised the statement saying:”On March 2nd, as on October 8th, 2023, Israelis were attacked unprovoked from Lebanese territory by Hezbollah.
“These are the same Israelis who for an entire year were forced to leave their homes due to relentless Hezbollah fire, yet the statement ignores their suffering.
“In the last two weeks, Hezbollah has fired approximately 2,000 missiles, rockets, and drones at Israeli civilians. Would the citizens of the countries that signed this statement agree to live under such terror?
“If these democracies were attacked in this way, would they accept a distorted symmetry between ‘all parties’ – equating a democratic state defending its citizens with a terror organization that has taken control over a neighbouring state?
“The statement includes no demand on the Lebanese government to stop the fire on Israel – or even to remove Hezbollah ministers from the government. The Lebanese government failed to disarm Hezbollah, and now it must take steps to immediately stop the firing towards Israel.”
Lebanon faced renewed conflict on 2 March after the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah opened fire on Israel.
Hezbollah said the response was revenge for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war.
Israel responded with an offensive that has reportedly killed more than 880 people in Lebanon, and left more than one million people driven from their homes.
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