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Live blog: Lebanon truce may take effect in ‘few hours’ — Israeli media
Israel’s war on Gaza, now in its 356th day, has killed at least 41,495 Palestinians. And more than 620 people have been killed since September 23 in Israel’s massive bombing campaign across Lebanon.
Smoke rises from the area following an Israeli army attack on the town of Khiam, located in the Nabatieh province of southern Lebanon, on September 25, 2024. / Photo: AA
AA
Smoke rises from the area following an Israeli army attack on the town of Khiam, located in the Nabatieh province of southern Lebanon, on September 25, 2024. / Photo: AA
Thursday, September 26, 2024
0552 GMT — A cease fire between Israel and Lebanese group Hezbollah could come into effect in few hours, Israel’s Channel 13 reported.
This morning, senior United States officials, quoted by the British network Sky News, expressed optimism, stating they expect a ceasefire to “take effect within hours”.
This is a developing story. We will bring you on more it as soon as more details drop.
More updates 
0631 GMT — Lebanese PM believes ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah possible
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has expressed hope that a cease fire could be reached soon to end fighting between Israel and Hezbollah that has shaken his country and raised fears of a ground invasion.
The United States, France and several allies called for an immediate 21-day cease fire across the Israel-Lebanon border while also expressing support for a cease fire in Gaza following intense discussions at the United Nations on Wednesday.
Mikati welcomed the call for a truce but said the key to its implementation is whether Israel, which has been moving troops closer to Lebanon, is committed to enforcing international resolutions.
Asked if a cease fire could be secured soon, Mikati said: “Hopefully, yes.”
0508 GMT — Pro-Palestinian activists in Belgium demand cancellation of ‘twinning’ with Israel
Pro-Palestinian activists in Belgium are working to remove the status of the Brussels municipality of Ixelles and city of Antwerp as “twin cities” with the Israeli town of Megiddo.
Belgian citizen Malika Hamri, the pioneer of the initiative, told Anadolu that protests have been held in front of the Ixelles municipal building since June demanding the termination of the twin city relationship established in 2012 between the municipality and Megiddo.
Hamri, who is of Moroccan origin, said that since the outbreak of Israel’s war in Gaza on October 7 last year, they have been organising various support events for Palestinians.
0350 GMT — UN chief criticises divided Security Council for failure of leadership to end wars, calls for unity
The United Nations chief sharply criticised the powerful but deeply divided Security Council at a high-level meeting for a failure of leadership to end wars in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and beyond.
“Peace demands action. And peace demands leadership,” Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the 15-member council charged with ensuring international peace and security.
“Instead, we’re seeing deepening geopolitical divisions and mistrust.”
He pointed to repeated violations of the UN Charter and international law, conflicts multiplying and becoming more deadly, and civilians paying the steepest price.
0142 GMT — US, EU, Arab states call for ‘temporary ceasefire’ in Lebanon
The United States, European Union and several Arab nations issued a joint call for a “temporary ceasefire” in Lebanon after Israeli strikes threatened to tip the Middle East into all-out war.
“We, therefore, have worked together in recent days on a joint call for a temporary ceasefire to give diplomacy a chance to succeed and avoid further escalations across the border,” US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron said in a joint statement.
“The statement we have negotiated is now endorsed by the United States, Australia, Canada, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.”
2027 GMT — Turkish president slams Western silence on Gaza genocide
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticised the West for silence in the face of Israel’s war on besieged Gaza, which has killed nearly 41,500 Palestinians, mostly women and children, since October 7.
“Unfortunately, many Western countries remain silent in the face of Israel, and they never took a stance against Israel,” Erdogan told US-based NBC News.
“Among the NATO allies, unfortunately, there are many countries that side with Israel. We are currently in the United States right now, and the United States is actually one of them,” he said.
Erdogan said US President Joe Biden criticises Israel on one hand, but provides Israel with weapons, ammunition and has dispatched an aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean in support of Tel Aviv.
1919 GMT — Macron says Israel cannot expand its war to Lebanon ‘without consequence’
The French president has said that Israel cannot expand its war to Lebanon “without consequence”, urging all parties to de-escalate the situation.
“Israel cannot, without consequence, just expand its operations to Lebanon. France demands that everyone respect their obligations along the Blue Line,” Emmanuel Macron said in his address to the UN General Assembly.
Macron said that France will take steps to ensure that a diplomatic voice can be heard, as it’s “indispensable” for protecting civilians and preventing the conflict from spreading across the region.
“There cannot be a war in Lebanon,” he said. “This is why we urge Israel to cease this escalation in Lebanon and to Hezbollah to cease the missile launch to Israel.”
2039 GMT — Lula condemns Israeli ‘genocide’ against Palestinians
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has highlighted the severity of the situation in Palestine and Lebanon, and urged countries with influence on Israel to get it to end the “genocide” against Palestinians.
The Brazilian president noted that the death toll in Lebanon after Israeli attacks is the “largest number of a death toll since the civil war” that took place in that country from 1975-1990, as responded to a question by Anadolu on the situation in Lebanon and the possibility of an arms embargo on Israel as a result of its actions in the region.
Noting that women and children are among civilian casualties in Lebanon, da Silva stated that approximately 10,000 people have also been displaced
Noting the judicial process underway at the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, da Silva noted that the premier failed to comply with UN decisions despite the UN Security Council’s adoption of a resolution for a ceasefire.
2033 GMT — Italy, Belgium urge nationals to leave Lebanon
Italy and Belgium have advised their nationals in Lebanon to leave the country amid escalating security concerns in the region.
Speaking at the European People’s Party (EPP) meeting in Naples, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said: “We have always advised Italians working in Lebanon to leave as soon as possible. There are still flights from Beirut to the West, so we recommend they leave now.”
He noted that about 300 Italians are in Lebanon for work, while 3,000 are dual nationals.
Tajani noted that 1,000 Italian soldiers are part of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon mission, and efforts are being made to ensure their safety.
Belgium’s Foreign Ministry also urged its citizens to leave Lebanon “as soon as possible.”
The ministry warned that the security situation “could worsen further,” according to Belgium’s official agency, Belga.
2018 GMT — Egypt urges its nationals to avoid travel to Lebanon amid rising tensions
Egypt advised its nationals to avoid traveling to Lebanon, citing Israeli military strikes.
“Given the rapidly evolving situation in Lebanon and the intensifying military operations along the Israeli-Lebanese border, we urge Egyptians to avoid traveling to Lebanon unless absolutely necessary,” according to a Foreign Ministry statement.
It urged nationals in Lebanon to exercise caution, avoid conflict zones, follow instructions by Lebanese authorities and stay in contact with the Egyptian Embassy in Beirut.
For our live updates from Wednesday, September 25, 2024, click here.
SOURCE: TRTWORLD AND AGENCIES
