Lebanon’s Prime Minister, Najib Mikati has stated that his country faces “one of the most dangerous phases of its history,” urging the United Nations to provide aid for people displaced by Israeli air strikes.
Najib Mikati was reported as saying that around a million people have been displaced because of the devastating war that Israel is waging on Lebanon.
“We urgently call for more aid to reinforce our ongoing efforts to provide basic support to displaced civilians,” he said in a meeting with UN representatives.
According to the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, the Lebanese Prime Minister and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza launched a $426m flash appeal to mobilise urgent resources for civilians affected by the escalating conflict and resulting humanitarian crisis in Lebanon.
Lebanon’s parliament Speaker, Nabih Berri also called for a United Nations air bridge to expedite aid deliveries for almost one million people displaced by Israeli attacks.
A statement issued by his office said that Berri called on the UN to establish an “air bridge to ensure the delivery of relief supplies.”
It also urged the international and Lebanese Red Cross to “carry out their duties in delivering relief and medical supplies to south Lebanon”.
Israeli Raids In Lebanon Decried
Meanwhile, a number of officials denounced Israel’s raid.
Spanish Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albares said that Israel should not conduct ground raids in southern Lebanon to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
“We insist that the ground incursion should be halted, as we’re receiving very worrying information,” Albares said, adding that it was “necessary to reach a truce in Lebanon and a ceasefire in Gaza.”
Albares also condemned Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on Israeli territory.
“It is an unbearable conflict and it has to stop now. We cannot resign ourselves to war being the normal way of relating between the peoples of the Middle East. To achieve peace there is only one way: respect for international humanitarian law. This spiral of violence has to stop.”
Jose Manuel Albares
Also, the Kremlin stated that it is deeply concerned about Israel’s military activity in Lebanon.
“We are witnessing together that the geography of hostilities is expanding, which is further destabilising the region and increasing tensions,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Peskov noted that these tensions are destructive to the region and the surrounding areas.
Additionally, the Turkish Foreign Ministry stressed that Israel’s ground offensive in Lebanon violates the country’s territorial sovereignty.
It stated that the move is an illegal occupation attempt by Israel, adding that the operation must immediately end with Israeli forces withdrawing from Lebanon.
It urged the UN Security Council to “do what is necessary” in line with international law.
The ministry also condemned Israel’s ground offensive in Lebanon as an “unlawful invasion attempt.”
“This attack must end as soon as possible and Israeli soldiers must withdraw from Lebanese territory,” the statement said.
Moreover, Lolwah Alkhater, Qatar’s Minister for international cooperation, sharply criticised Israel’s attacks on Gaza and Lebanon.
“A monster has been unleashed in our region. A monster that uses prohibited weapons and methods that target civilians indiscriminately,” she wrote on X, referring to Israel.
She added that the “monster … didn’t adhere to a single decision by the Security Council” and violates international law daily.
“And yet, it continues to receive not only the blessings of some international actors, but also their weapons and taxpayers money. The Israeli Occupation EXCEPTIONALISM above international law MUST STOP.”
Lolwah Alkhater
“Unless we stand united to stop it, this military and political bullying will destroy the entire region,” she warned.
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