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EU Welcomes 10-Day Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire, Urges Path to Lasting Peace

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed a US-mediated 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, calling it a relief after many lives lost. She emphasized the need for a path to permanent peace and reiterated Europe's support for Lebanon's sovereignty and humanitarian aid. The truce follows diplomatic efforts by US President Donald Trump, who announced the agreement after talks with Lebanese and Israeli leaders. The US administration has directed senior officials to work with both nations to secure a lasting settlement, building on the first high-level talks between the countries in over three decades.

Key Points: EU Backs US-Mediated Israel-Lebanon Truce, Calls for Sovereignty

  • 10-day truce mediated by US
  • EU pledges humanitarian aid for Lebanon
  • Calls for respect of Lebanese sovereignty
  • First high-level talks in over 30 years
  • US tasked to facilitate permanent settlement
3 min read

EU chief welcomes 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon, Israel; calls for permanent peace

EU chief von der Leyen welcomes 10-day ceasefire mediated by Trump, pledges humanitarian aid for Lebanon and calls for permanent peace.

"I welcome the announced 10 day ceasefire... Now, we need not just a temporary pause, but a path to permanent peace. - Ursula von der Leyen"

Brussels, April 16

European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday welcomed the announcement of a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon mediated by the United States and said that Europe would continue to call for Lebanon's sovereignty.

In her remarks, she also said that Europe would continue to support Lebanon via humanitarian aid.

She said in a post on X, "I welcome the announced 10 day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, mediated by President Trump. This is a relief, as this conflict has already claimed far too many lives. Now, we need not just a temporary pause, but a path to permanent peace. Europe will continue to call for the full respect of Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity. And we will keep supporting the Lebanese people through substantial humanitarian aid."

Her remarks come after US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that Israel and Lebanon have reached an agreement to initiate a 10-day ceasefire, following intensified diplomatic efforts to reduce hostilities in the region.

The US President shared that he held "excellent conversations" with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, confirming that both leaders have committed to the temporary truce as a step towards a broader resolution.

Highlighting the historic nature of the recent diplomatic engagement, Trump noted that the two nations recently participated in high-level discussions in the American capital for the first time in more than thirty years. These talks involved senior US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio. To maintain the momentum of the ceasefire, Trump has tasked Vice President JD Vance and his top security team with facilitating ongoing dialogue between the two countries to secure a permanent settlement.

Reflecting on the significance of the earlier trilateral meeting, he added: "On Tuesday, the two countries met for the first time in 34 years here in Washington, D.C., with our great Secretary of State, Marco Rubio."

President Trump further outlined the administration's commitment to the peace process, stating: "I have directed Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Rubio, together with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan 'Razin' Caine, to work with Israel and Lebanon to achieve a lasting peace. It has been my honour to solve 9 wars across the world, and this will be my 10th, so let's get it done!"

The ceasefire comes at a critical juncture for West Asia, following a period of significant volatility along the Israel-Lebanon border.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
A 10-day ceasefire is just a band-aid. What's the plan for day 11? Permanent peace needs addressing root causes, not just high-level meetings in Washington. The region has seen too many broken truces.
A
Arjun K
From an Indian perspective, we understand the pain of border conflicts. Sovereignty is non-negotiable. Lebanon's territorial integrity must be respected, just as we expect for our own borders. Good step, but the road is long.
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Sarah B
While I welcome the EU's stance on aid, the mediation seems very US-centric. A more multilateral approach involving regional powers might lead to a more sustainable solution. The EU's role should be more than just providing aid.
V
Vikram M
Trump saying "it has been my honour to solve 9 wars" feels a bit self-congratulatory when the ceasefire is only for 10 days. Let's see the groundwork first. Hope the people on the ground get some real peace, not just headlines.
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Meera T
This is positive news. Any reduction in violence saves lives. The mention of talks after 34 years is significant. As Indians who value dialogue (vasudhaiva kutumbakam), we hope this window for diplomacy stays open. Fingers crossed.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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