Borrell stresses that “there is an urgent need for a ceasefire, both on the Blue Line and in Gaza”
September 22 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, expressed this Sunday his “extreme concern” about “the escalation in Lebanon” and called for actions to be taken to avoid “an open war”, amid the resurgence of clashes between Israel and the Shiite militia party Hezbollah.
“The EU is extremely concerned by the escalation in Lebanon following Friday’s attacks in Beirut, in which three children were also killed, and the increase in cross-border violence between Israel and Hezbollah,” Borrell said, referring to Israel’s bombing of the Lebanese capital.
He stressed that “intense attacks are being recorded in both Israel and Lebanon” this Sunday and noted that “a ceasefire is urgently needed, both on the Blue Line – the border between Lebanon and Israel – and in Gaza,” according to a statement published by his office.
“Civilians on both sides are paying a heavy price. They will also be the ones to suffer most once again in an open war that must be prevented, including through renewed and intensive diplomatic mediation efforts,” he said.
“This issue will be high on our agenda at the UN General Assembly,” Borrell said, reiterating the bloc’s call for “a full and symmetrical implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1701,” passed in August 2006 for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hezbollah that year.
Clashes between Israel and Hezbollah erupted a day after attacks by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and other Palestinian factions on Israeli territory on October 7, 2023, prompting the Israeli army to unleash a bloody offensive against the Gaza Strip.
Tensions have been rising in recent days, particularly following a wave of coordinated explosions on communications equipment allegedly carried out by Hezbollah, which left around 40 people dead and 3,000 injured. Much of the international community, including the UN, has expressed concern about the indiscriminate nature of the attack.
At least 45 people were also killed in Israel’s airstrike south of the Lebanese capital Beirut on Friday, including Ibrahim Akil, a senior official in Hezbollah’s main military wing who was identified by Israel as a target of the airstrike.
Hezbollah responded on Saturday and Sunday by firing dozens of projectiles at Israel, including an attack on Haifa — for the first time since fighting broke out in October 2023 — while Israel has stepped up its bombardment of suspected Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.
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