United States Initiates Diplomatic Effort to Address Conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon
BEIRUT/NEW YORK (Reuters) – The United States is leading a new diplomatic initiative aimed at resolving hostilities in both Gaza and Lebanon, treating the two conflicts as part of a single strategic effort. This information was disclosed to Reuters by seven sources familiar with the plan.
Talks detailing the initiative are taking place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Sources providing insight include two Lebanese officials, two Western diplomats, an individual familiar with the armed Lebanese group Hezbollah’s perspective, a source in Washington, and another individual briefed on the discussions.
While the United States is making connections between the Gaza and Lebanon conflicts, other Western officials indicated that the immediate priority is to halt the violence in Lebanon, which poses higher risks of escalating into a regional conflict.
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, speaking at the United Nations, revealed to Reuters that the U.S. and France are working on an interim agreement aimed at de-escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. The broader goal is to eventually include efforts towards a long-term ceasefire in Gaza.
Despite the diplomatic efforts, Israel suggested it might extend its military campaign in Lebanon. Three Israeli officials indicated that while the U.S. and France are working on ceasefire proposals, no substantial progress has been achieved.
A comprehensive deal, if realized, would involve the release of hostages taken by the Palestinian group Hamas during its October 7 attack on Israel. This detail was provided by a senior Lebanese official, the source familiar with Hezbollah’s stance, and the individual briefed on the discussions.
The White House National Security Council did not respond immediately to requests for comment, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declined to comment.
Since the October 7 attack by Hamas, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages taken into Gaza, the region has been engulfed in violence. In response, Israel launched an assault on Gaza, causing over 41,000 fatalities according to local authorities.
Following Hamas’ attack, Iran-backed Hezbollah began firing rockets at Israeli military positions along Lebanon’s southern border as an act of solidarity with Gaza. Hezbollah announced it would continue its attacks on Israel until the latter stops its assault on Gaza. Repeated U.S. attempts to broker a ceasefire and secure the hostages’ release have thus far been unsuccessful.
In recent developments, Israel has intensified its military actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon, conducting numerous airstrikes and claiming the lives of several Hezbollah commanders and hundreds of others. Lebanese authorities report that these actions have led to mass evacuations, with around half a million people fleeing the area in anticipation of a potential Israeli ground incursion into southern Lebanon.
A senior Western diplomat revealed to Reuters that the U.S. is seeking an arrangement under which Israel would first announce an end to major hostilities in Gaza. This would then pave the way for a ceasefire in Lebanon and potential border demarcation between Israel and Lebanon. Such steps are viewed as potential measures to avert a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Sources close to Hezbollah have indicated that the organization is open to a settlement encompassing both Gaza and Lebanon. One Lebanese official asserted that resolving the conflicts would necessitate a comprehensive approach covering both regions.
Current discussions reportedly focus on initiating a temporary pause in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah and reviving stalled indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas, according to a U.S. source.
In a sign of accelerating diplomatic efforts, Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, announced an unscheduled trip to New York. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot to visit Lebanon as part of endeavors to prevent the outbreak of a full-scale war.
The ongoing conflict has created significant political pressure on U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, impacting their administration and the Democratic presidential campaign. President Biden stated that while an all-out war in the Middle East is possible, there remains a chance for a diplomatic resolution.
Talks at the General Assembly aim to provide an opportunity for a political settlement addressing the Lebanese-Israeli border and reviving hostage negotiations related to Gaza, according to a source in Washington. However, another U.S. source cautioned that the diplomatic proposal is complex, presenting significant challenges in terms of implementation.
President Macron is the sole Western leader to have engaged in talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during the General Assembly. Macron requested that Iran utilize its influence over Hezbollah. French officials emphasized the need to prioritize a cessation of hostilities, recognizing the intricate nature of incorporating Gaza into a broader settlement at this stage.