Iain Marlow, Ellen Milligan, Samy Adghirni, Augusta Saraiva and Golnar Motevalli
The U.S., European allies and Arab powers proposed a three-week ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon as part of a bid to clear the way for negotiations and avert all-out war after days of air-strikes by Israeli forces.
“It is time to conclude a diplomatic settlement that enables civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes in safety,” the nations said in a statement released Wednesday evening that called on the governments of Israel and Lebanon to implement the pause in fighting.
If they do so, the countries said they stand ready to support a push toward a deal that would end the crisis altogether—though the terms of such an agreement remained undefined.
Senior Biden administration officials said that they expect the governments of Israel and Lebanon to make statements accepting the deal in the coming hours, and expressed hope that it will open the door to achieving a so-far elusive end to the fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. There was no immediate word from Hezbollah on whether the Iran-backed group would agree to the deal.
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