Lebanon ceasefire deal not an acceptable long-term solution

Following news that Israel’s government has agreed a temporary ceasefire deal for Lebanon, Paras Tamang, Global Humanitarian Director at ActionAid, said: 

“Today’s announcement of a 60-day cessation of hostilities offers temporary relief for the millions of civilians caught in the conflict in Lebanon, but it is not an acceptable long-term solution to the crisis. Are people in Lebanon now to live in limbo until bombs start dropping on their homes again? A permanent ceasefire is the only way to end the suffering and enable people in Lebanon to rebuild their lives.

“The Israeli government’s violent attacks on Lebanon have devastated entire communities, destroying homes, killing thousands and displacing countless families. Just today, Beirut was pounded by waves of airstrikes and thousands of people were forced to flee their homes. Whilst the airstrikes may stop for a while, the fallout from these attacks will continue to be felt for years to come. More humanitarian aid is needed to help the hundreds of thousands of people who have lost everything. 

“Crucially, we are still no closer to a ceasefire in Gaza. Israel continues its plausible genocide in Gaza with impunity, murdering thousands of Palestinians – most of them women and children - and causing unimaginable human misery. An immediate ceasefire in Gaza in needed desperately. Civilians in Gaza, Lebanon and the wider region must be protected, and a continuous flow of aid to Gaza, massively scaled up, must be made possible to address the humanitarian situation.”