Aoun calls on EU to 'pressure Israel' to comply with cease-fire

In front of a European Union (EU) representative, President Joseph Aoun on Friday called on European countries to put pressure on Israel alongside the support they provide to Lebanon, in order to force Israel to comply with the cease-fire established on April 17.

"The support provided by the European Union must be part of an effort to pressure Israel to respect the cease-fire and refrain from blowing up houses and demolishing the villages it occupies in the South," Aoun urged during a meeting at the Baabda Presidential Palace with an EU delegation that included, among others, Hadja Lahbib, the European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management.

The head of state also condemned the ongoing Israeli strikes against "rescue workers, journalists and members of Civil Defense." "The considerable human losses caused by Israeli aggression against Lebanon are making humanitarian needs for displaced people rise day by day. That is why Lebanon is calling on its brotherly and friendly countries to provide urgent humanitarian and development assistance," he added.

The president also stressed that "Lebanon is committed to a cease-fire and to halting all military operations in order to start negotiations aimed at ending the unstable situation in the South, with a view to redeploying the army up to the international borders, freeing Lebanese prisoners, and enabling displaced people to return to their towns and villages."

A third session of talks between Lebanon and Israel is scheduled to be held next week in Washington, with the stated objective of consolidating a cease-fire that has never truly taken effect in Lebanon since April 17, particularly south of the Litani River. Since that date, Israel has instead formalized the establishment of a "buffer zone" in southern Lebanon and southern Bekaa, where it occupies more than 60 villages across more than 600 km² of Lebanese territory and continues its bombings, blasting and demolition operations. Hezbollah, meanwhile, continues to fire salvos of rockets and drones at Israeli positions and troops, and even into northern Israel.

The Lebanese Health Ministry has recorded 433 additional deaths since the start of the truce, according to its latest toll, which reports at least 2,727 people killed in Lebanon by Israeli attacks since the resumption of the war on March 2.

'Hezbollah must cease its attacks and be disarmed'

For her part, Lahbib deplored the fact that more than half the population of Lebanon "depends on humanitarian aid." "Currently, more than three million people — so more than half the population in Lebanon — depend on humanitarian aid to survive," she said, noting that the EU had already delivered six planes of humanitarian aid since March 2, with a seventh expected on Saturday. T

he European Commissioner believed the cease-fire declared on April 17 had opened "a narrow window of hope." "Hezbollah must cease its attacks and be disarmed" and "Israel must end its bombardments," she said. "For a cease-fire to lead to peace, it takes the political courage to address the root causes of this conflict," Lahbib stressed.

Aoun also met with Ambassador Simon Karam, who will lead direct negotiations with Israel, according to the presidency. He also received a delegation from the Lebanese Red Cross, whose work he praised.

"Our duty is to stand by your side, to defend you and protect you," he emphasized. He added: "We have called for an end to the targeting of health organizations in all forms, from the Red Cross to Civil Defense, as well as journalists, in accordance with current international laws and humanitarian practices." Aoun also expressed hope that "the aggression against Lebanon will soon come to an end."

For his part, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam received army commander Gen. Rodolph Haykal to discuss the situation in the South, efforts to consolidate the cease-fire, as well as the security situation in Beirut.

Salam also received Lahbib, with whom he discussed the humanitarian situation in Lebanon and ways to strengthen cooperation between Lebanon and the European Union in relief and emergency response. According to the Grand Serail, the official confirmed that the European Union would continue its support for Lebanon, especially in the field of humanitarian aid, stressing the importance of continued coordination with the relevant Lebanese authorities. For his part, Salam thanked the EU for its ongoing support to Lebanon, welcomed the current coordination with the competent authorities and stressed the importance of strengthening international support for the humanitarian response and supporting the Lebanese state in the face of current challenges.