Lebanon calls on the international community to fulfill its historical and moral responsibility to stop Israeli aggression. This statement was made by Prime Minister Najib Mikati after a meeting with the commander of the UN Interim Forces in the republic, Spanish General Aroldo Lazaro Saenz.
“Israel’s expansion of the scale of aggressive actions throughout Lebanese territory means its refusal of the truce and the options proposed by diplomatic mediators for resolving the conflict within the framework of the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701,” he emphasized. “Israel’s persistence puts the international community before the historical and moral responsibility to stop this barbaric aggression.” .
The head of government indicated that Beirut “highly appreciates the intense efforts made by the blue helmets at this difficult stage, and fully supports their peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon.” On October 30, Mikati expressed cautious hope that “in the coming hours or days it will be possible achieve a ceasefire in southern Lebanon."
He made this statement before negotiations in Jerusalem on October 31 between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior US presidential advisers Amos Hawksteen and Brett McGurk, which were dedicated to concluding a truce with the republic for 60 days. American emissaries were then expected to head to Beirut to discuss the final formula for a bilateral deal between Lebanon and Israel, but this did not happen.
Earlier, Mikati said he had held telephone discussions with Hawksteen, who told him "about the possibility of achieving a positive result before November 5." It is not specified whether the Lebanese prime minister had a conversation with the American emissary after his visit to Jerusalem.