EU urges Israel to accept ceasefire deal with Hezbollah

New York, Nov. 27: The European Union's top diplomat said Tuesday there were "no excuses" for Israel to refuse to implement a ceasefire with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, saying all its security concerns had been addressed in the U.S.-French-brokered deal.

Josep Borrell, the outgoing EU foreign policy chief, called for increased pressure on Israel to blunt extremists in the government who are refusing to accept the deal. Speaking on the sidelines of a Group of Seven meeting in Italy, Borrell warned that if a ceasefire is not implemented, "Lebanon will fall apart."

Israeli officials said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security Cabinet was set to convene Tuesday to discuss a proposed ceasefire. Among the issues that remain is an Israeli demand to reserve the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations under the emerging deal.

Borrell said the U.S. would chair a ceasefire implementation committee, but France would participate at the request of Lebanon.

"On the proposal agreement brokered by the U.S. and France, Israel has all security concerns (addressed)," Borrell told reporters in Fiuggi, Italy. "There is not an excuse for not implementing a ceasefire. Otherwise, Lebanon will fall apart."

Hezbollah began attacking Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, a day after Hamas' attack on southern Israel, setting off more than a year of fighting. That escalated into all-out war in September with massive Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon and an Israeli ground invasion of the country's south. Hezbollah has fired thousands of rockets into Israeli military bases, cities and towns, including some 250 projectiles on Sunday.

In the Gaza Strip, more than 44,000 people have been killed and more than 104,000 wounded in the 13-month war between Israel and Hamas, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. (AP)