A Ceasefire Deal: Urgent and Within Reach

Last week, the United States vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza for the fourth time, leaving hopes of resolving the crisis as distant as ever.

However, there appears to be a glimmer of hope on another front. While achieving a ceasefire in Gaza would undoubtedly foster peace in the region, the ongoing deadlock at the UN and the connection between the Gaza conflict and tensions between Israel and Hezbollah suggest that progress elsewhere might make a difference. Recent discussions about a potential ceasefire in Lebanon signal a positive development. On Monday, Israel's ambassador to the U.S. stated that a ceasefire deal might be finalized “within days.” Similarly, a U.S. special envoy in Lebanon noted last week that an agreement is “within our grasp.”

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The proposed agreement includes a two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon, and Hezbollah would end its armed presence south of the Litani River. Despite significant progress, weekend clashes between the two sides highlight how fragile this potential agreement remains. Even after Israel’s elimination of nearly all senior Hezbollah commanders, the group launched one of its heaviest attacks in months, underscoring the volatility of the situation.

Rather than seeing the ongoing violence as an obstacle to peace, it should serve as a stark reminder of the futility of violence in resolving conflict.

The toll of this prolonged fighting is devastating. The Lebanese health ministry reports that Israeli offensives have killed over 3,750 people, injured more than 15,630, and displaced approximately 1.4 million—nearly a quarter of Lebanon's population. On the Israeli side, over 100 soldiers and civilians have been killed, and thousands of residents in border areas have been forced to evacuate.

Adding to the urgency is the growing fear of the conflict spilling into neighboring countries, particularly Syria and Iraq, as Israel works to cut off weapons supplies from Iran to Hezbollah. At a recent G7 meeting near Rome, the Italian foreign minister expressed optimism, stating, “We are perhaps close to a ceasefire in Lebanon,” while urging that no last-minute obstacles derail the progress. His sentiments reflect the hopes of the international community.

China has called for calm, urging all parties to avoid actions that escalate tensions and to seize this opportunity to de-escalate the conflict. The international community is united in hoping that a ceasefire becomes a reality and offers a much-needed reprieve to the region.

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Ceasefire deal needs getting over the line

With the United States vetoing a Gaza ceasefire resolution at the UN Security Council for the fourth time last week, the prospect of making a breakthrough to bring an end to the crisis appeared as remote as ever.

But an apparent ray of hope has emerged. While it would certainly be a lot more conducive to peace in the region if a ceasefire was reached in Gaza first, given the stalemate at the UNSC and considering the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in a large part derives from what Israel is doing in Gaza, the latest talk of a ceasefire being on the cards in Lebanon is certainly a positive development. The Israeli ambassador to the United States claimed on Monday that a cease-fire deal could be reached "within days". And a US special envoy said in Lebanon last week a truce agreement was "within our grasp".

The ceasefire agreement being negotiated calls for a two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. While substantial headway seems to have been made on a deal, the exchange of fire between the two sides over the weekend shows how precarious the possibility of a ceasefire is. Even after Israel eliminated almost all the senior Hezbollah commanders, the latter was still able to launch what was one of its heaviest barrages in months.

But rather than seeing the violent tit-for-tat as making real ceasefire impossible, it would make more sense to take it as an ongoing lesson on the futility of violence in ending violence.

The fighting has dragged on for far too long, and the cost in lives and human suffering has been high. According to the Lebanese health ministry, the Israeli offensives against Hezbollah had killed more than 3,750 people as of Sunday, left some 15,630 more wounded and displaced about 1.4 million people, or one-fourth of the country's population. More than 100 soldiers and civilians have been killed on the Israeli side, with tens of thousands of residents evacuated from their homes in border areas.

More importantly, there is growing concern that the conflicts may extend to neighboring countries, most likely Syria and Iraq, as Israel struggles to cut off weapons supplies from Iran to Hezbollah. The Italian foreign minister, while opening the G7 meeting near Rome, noted that "We are perhaps close to a ceasefire in Lebanon", and said "Let's hope it's true and that there's no backing down at the last-minute." That is a sentiment that most of the international community will share and endorse.

China opposes any move that fuels antagonism and escalates regional tensions, and it hopes that the parties concerned will take the opportunity to cool down the situation and prevent the conflict from escalating further.

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By Tan Hongkai | China Daily | Updated: 2024-11-27 07:54

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202411/27/WS67465fb8a310f1265a1cfc17.html