THE convention is that when parties are seeking a cessation in hostilities or a ceasefire, they engage in confidence-building measures that can eventually help silence the guns. However, in Israel’s case, the Zionist state has ‘supported’ American efforts to effect a truce in Lebanon by relentlessly pounding that country.

Beirut, Baalbek and Tyre have been hit in savage bombing raids over the past few days; but these actions are unlikely to convince Hezbollah — Tel Aviv’s Lebanese arch-nemesis — to sue for peace. In fact, Sheikh Naim Qassem, the new Hezbollah leader, taunted the Israelis in a speech after taking office, indicating that the pro-Iran armed group remains defiant. America’s efforts to end the violence in Lebanon and occupied Palestine must also be questioned.

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies as the latter continue to butcher Lebanese and Palestinian civilians. Such ‘peace talks’ led by a biased interlocutor are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade for public consumption. Moreover, the reported criteria that Tel Aviv has laid out for accepting a ceasefire in Lebanon — particularly allowing it to cross the border at will in pursuit of Hezbollah, thus violating Lebanese sovereignty — will not be a ceasefire, but an instrument of surrender for Beirut.

Both in Gaza and Lebanon, Israel is stuck in a quagmire. Militarily, though it has inflicted damage on both, it has been unable to defeat Hamas or Hezbollah. Rockets and drones continue to fly towards Israeli cities from Lebanon. One of the world’s best-armed militaries — backed by a military superpower and its European supporters — has been unable to defeat two much smaller non-state actors. It is perhaps to erase this ignominy that Israel continues its genocidal war in Palestine and Lebanon. A ceasefire in both theatres is definitely required; only it will take unbiased respected international actors — who do not act as Israel’s B-team — to bring one about.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2024