Brussels: Maxime Pr©vot, Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, published a joint statement on his official platforms, issued by the Foreign Ministers of 17 European countries, addressing the situation in Lebanon amid escalating violence and mounting humanitarian concerns.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the Foreign Ministers of Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Moldova, Norway, Poland, San Marino, Spain, and Sweden expressed alarm over the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The statement highlighted the severe humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, with 1.2 million internally displaced persons constituting approximately 25% of the overall population. The violence has resulted in over 1,000 fatalities, mainly civilians, including children, aid workers, and journalists, as reported by Lebanon's Health Ministry.
The joint statement condemned Hezbollah's decision to attack Israel in support of Iran and called for an immediate cessation of hostile actions against Israel. It stressed the importance of Hezbollah's disarmament in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and urged Israel to comply fully with international humanitarian law, emphasizing the need for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.
The European Foreign Ministers called for independent investigations to ensure accountability and urged both Israel and Hezbollah to cease military operations. They emphasized the significance of respecting Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity and advocated for unhindered humanitarian access to affected populations.
The statement expressed support for the Lebanese government's decision to maintain a state monopoly on weapons and its efforts to disarm Hezbollah. It commended the Lebanese Cabinet's decision to ban Hezbollah's military activities and tasked the Lebanese Armed Forces with taking custody of Hezbollah's weapons. The statement also applauded recent reform efforts by the Lebanese government and called on the international community to support the Lebanese Armed Forces.
Furthermore, the statement reiterated support for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in executing its mandate and condemned attacks on UN peacekeepers, which resulted in casualties, including the killing of Indonesian peacekeepers. The safety of UN peacekeepers was highlighted as a priority.
Expressing condolences to all victims of the violence in Lebanon and Israel, the statement called for adherence to the November 2024 ceasefire agreement and the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. It urged Israel to engage in direct negotiations with Lebanese authorities, emphasizing that de-escalation and diplomacy were critical for lasting peace and security in the Middle East.
The European Foreign Ministers highlighted their ongoing mobilization of substantial emergency and humanitarian assistance for Lebanon and its population, urging the international community to further aid Lebanon.