Key facts
- A trilateral agreement between Israel and Lebanon has been announced.
- UN aid chief Tom Fletcher outlined six key requests for Lebanon, including de-escalation and safe returns.
- Lebanon is experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis following Israeli military actions.
- Over 1.1 million people have been displaced in Lebanon.
- Three UN peacekeepers have been killed amid the conflict.
- The UN Secretary-General advocates for diplomacy over a military solution in Lebanon.
The United Nations humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, has outlined six key requests for Lebanon following the announcement of a trilateral agreement between Israel and Lebanon. Fletcher described the agreement as a "moment of hope and opportunity" but stressed that Lebanon continues to face a "grave humanitarian crisis" due to months of Israeli military attacks.
Fletcher stated that the humanitarian community is mobilized and determined to translate the current momentum into tangible improvements for those displaced by the conflict. Among the UN's "six asks" are "sustained and extended de-escalation" and ensuring "safe, voluntary and dignified returns" for displaced populations.
This development follows an emergency UN Security Council session convened to address Israel's expanding ground invasion and bombardment of Lebanon. Fletcher questioned the council on its preparedness to protect civilians, particularly in light of comments from Israeli ministers regarding occupation plans and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. He also inquired about collective international preparation for potential new occupied territories, given the "coercive displacement" observed.
More than 1.1 million people have been displaced across Lebanon since March 2, following intensified Israeli attacks. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has indicated plans to establish a security zone within Lebanon and maintain control up to the Litani River after the current escalation with Hezbollah concludes. Human rights groups have condemned these operations, warning against attacks on civilian infrastructure and restrictions on returns.
The conflict has also seen the deaths of three UN peacekeepers. Two Indonesian peacekeepers were killed on Monday when their vehicle was destroyed by an explosion, and another was killed the previous day by a projectile. UN officials have condemned these attacks, emphasizing that they violate international law and may constitute war crimes, calling for accountability and an immediate cessation of acts endangering peacekeepers.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has stated that "there is no military solution, only diplomacy" for Lebanon, which he described as being "dragged into" war. During a visit to the country, he launched a flash appeal for $325 million to support over 800,000 internally displaced persons. Guterres also stressed that actions not creating sufficient security for civilians inevitably violate international humanitarian law. High-level Lebanese consultations are underway to form a negotiating delegation for potential talks with Israel, with Cyprus or another European capital being considered as venues.