US, France, and allies call for 21-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, could include Hamas

U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron issued a joint statement on Wednesday night calling for a 21-day ceasefire between Israel and the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Lebanon.

Shortly after the initial statement, the White House released an expanded joint statement on behalf of the United States, Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Qatar.

“The situation between Lebanon and Israel since October 8th, 2023 is intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation," the joint statement read. “This is in nobody’s interest, neither of the people of Israel nor of the people of Lebanon.”

The statement referred to the situation of large numbers of evacuees both in northern Israel and southern Lebanon as a result of rocket fire exchanges between Hezbollah and the IDF.

“It is time to conclude a diplomatic settlement that enables civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes in safety,” the statement continued. “Diplomacy however cannot succeed amid an escalation of this conflict.”

The statement also called on the governments of Israel and Lebanon to agree to a 21-day ceasefire “to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement consistent with UNSCR 1701, and the implementation of UNSCR 2735 regarding a ceasefire in Gaza.”

Remarkably, the statement failed to mention the Hezbollah terror group, which began an unprovoked attack on Israel on Oct. 8, or the Hamas terrorist group in Gaza, which attacked Israel on Oct. 7 of last year.

The statement also referenced UN Resolution 1701, which explicitly calls for the disarming of militia groups, such as Hezbollah, and their removal north of the Litani River. This resolution has never been implemented, although Israel did agree to the terms.

Neither the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) nor the Lebanese government have attempted to disarm Hezbollah or enforce their removal north of the Litani River.

On Thursday morning, a senior White House official clarified several details regarding the ceasefire proposal, adding that the deal could be implemented “in the coming hours."

“The ceasefire will be for 21 days along the blue line. During those 21 days, the parties will negotiate towards a potential resolution of the conflict that has been ongoing since Hezbollah launched the attack on 8 October, and to reach a comprehensive agreement along the blue line that allows for residents to return to their home in both Lebanon and Israel,” the official stated during a phone briefing with reporters.

He also clarified that while it is hoped that the ceasefire on the northern border would “buy some time and space” to pursue a Gaza ceasefire agreement with Hamas, the latter is not included in the proposal currently being discussed.

Several Israeli leaders were quick to react to the call for a ceasefire.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett slammed the statement and the fact that world leaders only began urging a ceasefire after Israel increased its efforts against Hezbollah forces.

“The world is now pushing for a ceasefire with Hezbollah,” Bennett wrote on 𝕏. “It just doesn’t work that way.”

The world is now pushing for a ceasefire with Hezbollah.

It just doesn’t work that way.

Hezbollah has been shooting for the past year thousands of rockets at Israel for NO LEGITIMATE REASON.

Hezbollah murdered dozens of Israelis, including 12 children playing soccer.

70,000… https://t.co/YNsl2OHVhr
— Naftali Bennett נפתלי בנט (@naftalibennett) September 26, 2024

“Finally (and belatedly) Israel responds and is destroying Hezbollah,” Bennett continued. “So, all of a sudden, the world decides that NOW is the time for a ceasefire?”

“That’s the very definition of Chuzpa.”

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich echoed Bennett’s sentiments in a post (in Hebrew) to 𝕏, saying only the defeat or surrender of Hezbollah could bring “security to the north and the nation.”

“The campaign in the north should end in one scenario – crushing Hezbollah and denying its ability to harm the residents of the north,” Smotrich wrote. “The enemy must not be given time to recover from the heavy blows he received and to reorganize for the continuation of the war after 21 days. Surrender of Hezbollah or war, that's the only way we will return the residents and security to the north and the nation.”

After reports in Hebrew media suggested that Netanyahu had given approval to the ceasefire proposal, the Prime Minister's Office put out a statement rebutting the reports.

"The report about a ceasefire is incorrect. This is an American-French proposal that the Prime Minister has not even responded to," the statement read.

"The report about the purported directive to ease up on the fighting in the north is the opposite of the truth. The Prime Minister has directed the IDF to continue fighting with full force, according to the plan that was presented to him."

Netanyahu's office also responded to claims that a ceasefire in Lebanon would also involve Gaza, saying, "The fighting in Gaza will also continue until all the objectives of the war have been achieved."

Netanyahu is currently en route to the United States to speak at the U.N. General Assembly.