MEZIESBLOG

The situation in the Middle East has reached a “critical level of dangerosity”, the EU’s foreign affairs chief has said.

Josep Borrell said in a social media post that he supported calls for a UN Security Council resolution which urges a full end to hostilities at the shared border between Israel and Lebanon.

Officials have been urging for both sides to abide by the resolution for months.

It is needed “in addition to the much-needed ceasefire in Gaza”, Mr Borrell said.

The situation in the Middle East has reached a critical level of dangerosity, for the region and beyond.

I support Lebanon PM Mikati call for the immediate application of UNSCR 1701, in addition to the much-needed ceasefire in Gaza, to conjure the risk of a full blown war.

— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) August 25, 2024

Hamas rejects new Israeli conditions in Gaza ceasefire talks

Attention has been focused today on the heavy exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah which has fuelled fears of a full-scale regional war.

But there also appears to be no end in sight for the 10-month-old war in Gaza, as high-level ceasefire talks in Egypt appear to stall.

Hamas official Osama Hamdan has said this evening that the militant group is rejecting new Israeli conditions for a ceasefire and is sticking to 2 July proposal that it previously agreed to.

Israel and Hamas have been sticking firmly to their demands for months as the US, Qatar and Egypt have tried to broker a deal.