United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned at a press conference in Beirut on Saturday that over 800,000 people have been internally displaced since the war began in Lebanon, with the south of the country “risking becoming a wasteland.” He described Lebanon as having been “dragged into” the conflict and called for an end to the fighting, stating, “There is no military solution, only diplomacy.”
Guterres visited the country to discuss the situation and launch a flash appeal for $325 million in aid. When asked by Al Jazeera whether Israel’s forcible evacuation orders, covering 14% of Lebanon’s territory, are consistent with international humanitarian law, he responded, “Whatever does not create enough security for civilians inevitably becomes in violation of international humanitarian law.”
High-level consultations are ongoing in Lebanon to form a delegation for negotiations with Israel. An official source told Al Jazeera Arabic that an ambassadorial-level delegation is expected to be formed in preparation for possible talks, likely in Cyprus. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri is demanding a ceasefire before negotiations, a move welcomed by Europe, but Washington has yet to respond.
The Israeli army continues to strike areas in southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs, issuing sweeping evacuation orders. On Saturday, a family of four was killed in Sidon, and one person died in an attack on a residential building in Bourj Hammoud east of Beirut. According to Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health, 826 people have been killed and over 2,000 wounded in Israeli strikes since March 2.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the Lebanese government is ready for “direct talks” with Israel and offered to host negotiations in Paris. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera correspondent Nour Odeh noted that Israel has no concerns about “facing pressure regarding its operations or plans for Lebanon.” She added that the Israeli cabinet plans to discuss “a possible ground invasion” and “the occupation of 10% of southern Lebanon up to the Litani River.”
Source: www.aljazeera.com