The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon has escalated dramatically over the past week, following an Israeli airstrike that killed senior Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Qubaisi in Beirut. Israel's offensive, which has now claimed the lives of over 569 people, including 50 children, has raised alarms across the international community. This renewed conflict, during the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, is heightening fears of broader regional destabilization. The violence has already displaced over 200,000 people in Lebanon, with the United Nations confirming 90,000 new displacements over the last five days.
The situation prompted an emergency UN Security Council meeting on September 25, where world leaders voiced frustration with both Israel and the United States. Calls for an immediate ceasefire, spearheaded by European and U.S. officials, were dashed, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the Israeli military to continue its operations "with full force." Despite international pleas, Israel's military chief said Wednesday the Israeli Defense Forces was preparing for a possible ground operation in Lebanon as Hezbollah launched dozens of rockets into Israel.
The UN General Assembly passed two resolutions calling for a suspension of hostilities and upgrading the Palestinian delegation’s status at the UN. The resolutions received significant support, with 121 to 14 votes favoring the suspension of fighting and 143 member states backing the Palestinian status upgrade. Despite these efforts, the US continues to block full Palestinian membership at the UN, vetoing a Security Council recommendation earlier in the year. As of now, there are few signs of a breakthrough.
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