Netanyahu’s U.N. Address Amid Escalating Conflict with Hezbollah
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Hashim Sheikh
- . September 27, 2024
- . Update: September 27, 2024 11:01 pm
As the war between Israel and Hezbollah deepens, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel gave a high-stakes speech to the United Nations General Assembly. His speech came at a pivotal point since the United States and allies have been pushing for a temporary cease-fire—a suggestion meant to bring hostilities between the two sides to a three-week stop-gap. With both Israel and Hezbollah expressing resistance to such an accord, its chances seem dismal, though.
Both parties have shown mistrust of the cease-fire, meant as a means of de-escalating the violence engulfing Gaza and Lebanon, which raises questions over the possibility of a more extensive, Middle Eastern regional war. Though diplomatic efforts by the United States to negotiate a stop remain continuous, Netanyahu’s speech strengthened Israel’s will to keep military operations against Hezbollah in spite of cries for peace worldwide.
Global Leaders Demand Cease-Fire
World leaders pushed for quick actions to stop the conflict in Gaza and Lebanon at the yearly U.N. conference in New York. With terrible consequences for Middle East security, they cautioned of the great possibility for the conflict to develop into a full-scale regional war. Supported by the United States and allies, the cease-fire plan has been seen as a first step in stopping the carnage. Still, the future of the idea is unknown since both Israel and Hezbollah have good grounds to oppose it.
Supported by a wide range of Israeli politicians, Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed criticism against the concept of a cease-fire. Netanyahu made it quite apparent in his U.N. speech that the Israeli military would keep attacking Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. Declaring, “We will strike them with all our might,” Netanyahu underlined Israel’s commitment to keep its strong posture against the group backed by Iran.
Shortly following Netanyahu’s address, his staff released a well-crafted statement acknowledging American diplomatic initiatives and allowing room for ongoing negotiations on a possible cease-fire. The statement underlined that Israel “appreciates the U.S. efforts” but underlined that the Israeli government was not ready to commit to any quick stop in military activities. The remarks implied that Netanyahu is seeking to combine keeping Israel’s strong security posture with handling relations with its most important partner, the United States.
Response of Hezbollah and Israeli Military Actions
Not formally solicited for negotiations, Hezbollah, the strong Iran-backed force based in Lebanon, has not responded formally to the U.S.-led cease-fire request. Israel and Hezbollah have fought many battles since the Gaza war started last October, resulting in increasing losses on both sides. Israel has escalated its military attack against Hezbollah over the past 10 days, starting one of the most severe bombing operations in contemporary military history. Targeting infrastructure, important sites in southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah officials, Israeli bombings have greatly escalated the conflict.
Hezbollah has promised to keep attacking Israel in response, until a cease-fire is struck in Gaza, where combat between Israel and Hamas carries on unchecked. Hezbollah has been attacking northern Israel with several rockets over the past week, which has the Israeli military responding forcefully. While the Iron Dome defense system has intercepted most of the missiles fired toward Israeli cities, Israel has conducted airstrikes on dozens of Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. There has been no sign that either side is ready to stop its activities despite ongoing gunfights.
More general regional background and further developments
The situation in Gaza is still terrible as the battle between Israel and Hezbollah gets more intense; constant violence and great civilian losses result. Israel has not ceased its onslaught on Gaza, even although most of its military attention is now northward to Lebanon. Targeting Hamas facilities but also severely damaging residential neighborhoods, Israeli bombings have decimated most of the territory. Declaring it to be a Hamas command center, the Israeli military said on Thursday that it had destroyed a former school used as a refuge in Gaza. Nonetheless, Palestinian sources said that the strike claimed 35 lives—including women and children—marking yet another tragic day in the continuing conflict.
- U.N. Speech by Mahmoud Abbas Mahmoud Abbas, President of Palestinian Authority, also spoke fiercely in front of the UN denouncing Israel’s military operations in Gaza and the West Bank. Calling on the world community to step in and stop the flow of weapons to Israel, Abbas charged Israel with launching a “war of genocide” against Palestinians. Many diplomats, supporting the Palestinian cause, applauded his address by chanting “Free, free Palestine.” Abbas’s address underlined the growing gulf separating Israel from the Palestinian government as well as the growing global focus on the Gaza humanitarian situation.
- Targeting Tel Aviv, Houthi Missile Strikes: The regional battle grew more widespread when early Friday morning Yemen’s Houthi rebels fired a missile at Tel Aviv, the second such attack in as many weeks. Although the missile launch set off alarms across central Israel, the Israeli military effectively intercepted the projectile and no damage was recorded. Once a rare event, missile strikes on Tel Aviv by parties supported by Iran-backed organizations like the Houthis and Hezbollah have become more frequent, sparking questions of a more general Iranian role in the continuing war. The second missile fired against the city in three days, indicating a concerning rise in hostilities.
- Hezbollah Commanders Targeted: With much of their attention directed on disarming top Hezbollah commanders, the Israeli military has effectively targeted high-ranking group members in recent days. Hezbollah verified on Thursday the death of senior commander Mohamed Hussein Sarour engaged in drone operations for the group. The military of Israel claimed responsibility for the strike, designating Sarour as the most recent of a series of Hezbollah leaders slain in Israeli operations. Although Hezbollah has not given specifics on Sarour’s position inside the group, his death was noted as a major loss for the operations of Lebanon.
The Road Ahead: Not Sure Prospects for Harmony
Netanyahu’s speech to the United Nations made a speedy conclusion to the Israel-Hezbollah conflict seem remote. Though appeals for a cease-fire abroad abound, the ingrained stances of both sides make it difficult to see a near-term stop in conflict. Israel is still dedicated to its military goals; Netanyahu reiterated that Hezbollah is still the top focus. Hezbollah is clearly showing that it will not stop attacking unless a larger cease-fire is decided upon, one that will bring about an end of the conflict in Gaza.
The larger geopolitical setting in the area adds still another level of complexity to the matter. Iran’s support of Hezbollah and other militias like the Houthis adds still another level of difficulty since these organizations still target Israel with missile strikes and other kinds of attack. The growing dispute hazards attracting more regional players, thereby boosting the possibility of a bigger regional war.
There are many difficult roads to peace. With no obvious route toward de-escalation, Israel and Hezbollah seem to be caught in a lethal cycle of revenge right now. While world leaders keep advocating diplomacy, the battle rages on and the international community is left to deal with how to stop more killing and stabilize a territory on verge of a more general war.
