The US And Its Allies Call For A 21 Day Ceasefire At The Israel-Lebanon Border

South Lebanon/DOK via UN News

JAKARTA - The United States and some of its allies called for a 21-day ceasefire on the Israel-Lebanon border to prevent regional war outbreaks and disrupt stalled negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

A proposal described by a senior US official as an "important breakthrough," comes amid a deadly battle between Israel and Hezbollah that it fears could spread into a wider conflict.

Hoping to prevent such a thing, diplomats and leaders gathered in New York to attend the UN General Assembly session spent the last 48 hours in a hurry to get plans that would stop fighting and provide space for diplomacy to do.

Israel and Hezbollah have yet to reach an agreement. But US officials say the two sides are already familiar with the flow of the proposal and voiced that this optimism is the right time to announce it to the public.

The situation between Lebanon and Israel since October 8, 2023 cannot be tolerated and presents a wider regional escalation risk that cannot be accepted. This is not in the interest of anyone, neither the Israeli people nor the Lebanese people," read a joint statement from those countries released on Wednesday, September 26 evening local time.

President Joe Biden said the plan had been supported by Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

"We are capable of gaining significant support from Europe, as well as Arab countries," Biden told reporters.

"It's very important that this war doesn't spread," he added.

The direct purpose of this agreement is to lower the temperature and allow residents along the border to return to their homes in Israel and Lebanon.