The United States, France and several allies have called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire across the Israel-Lebanon border while also expressing support for a ceasefire in Gaza following intense discussions at the United Nations, Reuters reports.

The ceasefire would apply to the Israel-Lebanon “Blue Line”, the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel, and would allow the parties to negotiate towards a potential diplomatic resolution of the conflict, a senior Biden administration official said.

“We call on all parties, including the governments of Israel and Lebanon, to endorse the temporary ceasefire immediately,” according to a joint statement of the countries released by the White House.

The allies that signed the joint statement included Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and the European Union.

A senior White House official said Biden had been focused on the possibility of a ceasefire “in almost every conversation he had with world leaders” at the UN General Assembly this week.

 Smoke billows over southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike, as seen from Tyre, Lebanon on Sept 25, 2024. — Reuters
Smoke billows over southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike, as seen from Tyre, Lebanon on Sept 25, 2024. — Reuters

Opinion

Editorial

Agriculture tax
Updated 16 Nov, 2024

Agriculture tax

Amendments made in Punjab's agri income tax law are crucial to make the system equitable.
Genocidal violence
16 Nov, 2024

Genocidal violence

A RECENTLY released UN report confirms what many around the world already know: that Israel has been using genocidal...
Breathless Punjab
16 Nov, 2024

Breathless Punjab

PUNJAB’s smog crisis has effectively spiralled out of control, with air quality readings shattering all past...
Last call
Updated 15 Nov, 2024

Last call

PTI should hardly be turning its "final" protest into a "do or die" occasion.
Mini budget talk
15 Nov, 2024

Mini budget talk

NO matter how much Pakistan’s finance managers try to downplay the prospect of a ‘mini budget’ to pull off a...
Diabetes challenge
15 Nov, 2024

Diabetes challenge

AMONGST the many public health challenges confronting Pakistan, diabetes arguably does not get the attention it...