29
Apr
2026
Watch
Situation in Lebanon: implementation of the ceasefire, support peace efforts and humanitarian access (debate)
Mr President, dear colleagues, a ceasefire without enforcement is not stability. It is a pause before the next escalation. This is the risk we are facing today in Lebanon. While diplomatic talks between Israel and Lebanon are taking place in Washington, Hezbollah refuses to stop aggression. For Israel – this is a well-known fact since its foundation – security is not negotiable. After 7 October, Hezbollah has strongly increased its attacks on northern Israel, leading to thousands of internal refugees. The threat by the terrorist organisation is concrete and imminent. Hezbollah – as well as Hamas, by the way – must finally be disarmed. This is not only a political demand; it is a clear obligation under the UN Security Council Resolution 1701 from 2006. The authority of the State of Lebanon has been systematically undermined to an extent that entire parts of the Lebanese population are under the rule of Hezbollah. Since Hezbollah is now lacking support from Iran, this opens a historic chance for finally sidelining them, restoring state control, and turning relations between Israel and Lebanon from a state of war to a process of normalisation. Therefore, this is the moment for the EU to push both actors to pursue diplomacy. Diplomacy led to the Abraham Accords, the most stable peace framework in the Middle East until today. I regret that the EU last played a prominent role as a peace broker in the Middle East in the 1990s. At that time, Europe was trusted by all conflicting parties. I encourage the Member States and the Commission to work on regaining this trust.