World leaders gathered at the United Nations on Tuesday to urge Israel to avoid a full-scale conflict in Lebanon, with the UN chief warning the situation was on the “brink.”
During the UN General Assembly, Lebanese authorities reported that Israeli airstrikes had claimed 558 lives, including 50 children.
“Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest. Despite the escalation, a diplomatic solution remains possible,” US President Joe Biden said during his final address to the global body.
Biden emphasized that diplomacy was still the only way to achieve lasting security and enable residents from both nations to safely return to their homes along the border. His remarks came ahead of an emergency UN Security Council session on Lebanon scheduled for Wednesday.
However, Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib expressed disappointment, saying Biden’s comments were “not promising” and “would not resolve Lebanon’s crisis,” estimating that half a million people had been displaced by Israeli strikes.
“We should all be alarmed by the escalation. Lebanon is on the brink,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in his opening remarks.
Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, stated that Israel was “not eager” for a ground invasion of Lebanon, adding, “We don’t want to send our boys to fight in a foreign country.”
Meanwhile, efforts to defuse the situation in Lebanon remain uncertain, as attempts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza continue to falter.
Biden once again urged for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, telling the global assembly that it was time to “end this war.”
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani accused Israel of obstructing peace talks and stated, “There is no Israeli partner for peace” under Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, while affirming that Qatar would continue its mediation efforts.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of dragging the region “into war,” saying, “Not only children but also the UN system is dying in Gaza.”
Guterres warned of the possibility of Lebanon becoming “another Gaza,” calling the situation in the Palestinian territory a “non-stop nightmare.”
European Council President Charles Michel supported Israel’s right to defend itself but cautioned against “collective punishment” on civilians.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized the UN for its “senseless” inaction against Israel, while British Foreign Minister David Lammy voiced concerns over the risk of the conflict escalating into a regional war.
Danon, responding to criticisms, described the UN General Assembly debate as an “annual charade of hypocrisy.”
The international community continues to face multiple crises, including the ongoing civil war in Sudan and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.