What's happened
In his first address to the UN General Assembly, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged Israel and Hezbollah to cease hostilities and seek a diplomatic resolution. This comes amid escalating violence, with over 600 casualties reported in Lebanon due to Israeli airstrikes and ongoing rocket attacks from Hezbollah into northern Israel.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to BBC News, Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the need for an immediate ceasefire to allow for diplomatic negotiations, stating, "Stop the violence. Step back from the brink." In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has firmly rejected this call, asserting that military operations will continue with "full force" (Sky News). The Guardian highlights the urgency of the situation, noting that both US President Biden and French President Macron have called for a temporary ceasefire to prevent further escalation, stating, "It is time for a settlement on the Israel-Lebanon border". However, local leaders in northern Israel express concerns that a ceasefire could lead to future attacks, indicating a complex and divided response to the proposed ceasefire (The Guardian).
How we got here
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified following the outbreak of violence in Gaza on October 7, 2023. Recent cross-border attacks have led to significant casualties and displacement on both sides, prompting international calls for a ceasefire to prevent further escalation.
More on these topics
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Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese parliament.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.
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Lebanon, officially known as the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lies west across the Mediterranean Sea.
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Gaza may refer to:
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Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.
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The United Nations General Assembly is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, serving as the main deliberative, policy-making, and representative organ of the UN.
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Iran, also called Persia, and officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered to the northwest by Armenia and Azerbaijan, to the north by the Caspian Sea, to the northeast by Turkmenistan, to the east by Afghanistan a