Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry announced that Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib has been conducting a series of meetings as part of a proactive diplomatic campaign aimed at preventing any escalation and further deterioration of the situation in the region.
The Foreign Ministry clarified in a statement that the meetings included ambassadors from several countries: Dorothy Shea of the US, Marion Weichelt of Switzerland, Alexander Rudakov of Russia, Magoshi Masayuki of Japan, Qian Mingjian of China, Hervé Magro of France, Mauricio Alice of Argentina, and Hamish Cowell of the United Kingdom.
During these consultations, the recent developments in Gaza and southern Lebanon were discussed. Minister Bou Habib emphasized Lebanon’s reluctance towards escalation.
He cautioned about the ramifications of unchecked support for Israel on regional peace and security. He also highlighted Israel’s breaches of international humanitarian law and the laws of warfare through its collective punishment and imposed blockade on the Palestinian people in Gaza.
In related news, Minister Bou Habib also discussed regional developments in separate phone calls with the foreign ministers of Australia, Penny Wong, and the Netherlands, Hanka Bruins.
They exchanged views on the importance of restraint, de-escalation, and Israel’s respect for international humanitarian law. Minister Bou Habib and both foreign ministers agreed on the aspirations of their respective countries for calm and the imperative to exert more efforts to prevent the situation in the region from spiraling out of control.
