Wed Sep 25 05:54:20 UTC 2024: ## International Leaders Urge Israel to Avoid Full-Scale War in Lebanon as Situation Spirals
**New York, September 25, 2024** – As the United Nations General Assembly convened Tuesday, world leaders voiced grave concerns over the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, urging Israel to refrain from a full-scale invasion.
The call for restraint comes amid reports of devastating Israeli strikes that have resulted in the deaths of 558 people in Lebanon, including 50 children.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that Lebanon is “at the brink,” while US President Joe Biden acknowledged the escalation but maintained that a diplomatic solution remained possible.
“Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” Biden stated, emphasizing the need for a diplomatic solution to ensure the safety of residents on both sides of the border.
However, Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib expressed disappointment with Biden’s remarks, deeming them insufficient to address the situation. He estimated that the number of Lebanese displaced by the strikes has reached half a million.
Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, assured the assembly that his country was not seeking a ground invasion of Lebanon, stating, “We don’t want to send our boys to fight in a foreign country.”
The escalation in Lebanon comes amidst ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, where a ceasefire remains elusive despite international calls for de-escalation.
Qatar, acting as a mediator, accused Israel of hindering ceasefire negotiations, with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani stating that there is no Israeli partner for peace under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned Israel’s actions, accusing them of dragging the entire region into war. He likened the situation in Gaza to a “non-stop nightmare.”
The UN General Assembly meeting, dominated by concerns over the escalating crises in the Middle East, highlighted the deep divisions within the international community. The ongoing conflict has exposed the fragility of peace in the region and raised fears of a wider regional conflict.
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