The foreign ministers of 17 European states, including Cyprus, have issued a joint statement expressing alarm over the escalating conflict in Lebanon, calling on all parties to halt military action and urging diplomacy as a matter of urgency.
The ministers of Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Moldova, Norway, Poland, San Marino, Spain and Sweden said they were appalled by what they described as the dramatic situation on the ground, where 1.2 million people have been internally displaced, representing roughly a quarter of Lebanon's entire population. More than 1,000 people have been killed so far, the majority of them civilians, including children, aid workers and journalists, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry.
Condemnation on all sides
The ministers were unequivocal in condemning Hezbollah's decision to attack Israel in support of Iran, calling on the group to immediately cease all hostile actions and disarm in line with relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
At the same time, they reminded Israel of its obligation to fully abide by international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution. Attacks against civilians, healthcare personnel, aid workers, journalists and civilian infrastructure, they stressed, are unjustified and unacceptable and must stop immediately. The ministers also called for independent investigations to ensure accountability, and urged both sides to halt all military operations in Lebanon.
Support for Lebanese sovereignty
The statement expressed firm backing for Lebanon's efforts to reassert state authority, welcoming the Lebanese Cabinet's decision of 2 March 2026 to ban all security and military activities by Hezbollah, task the Lebanese Armed Forces with taking custody of Hezbollah's weapons and oblige the group to surrender its arsenal to the Lebanese state. The ministers also commended recent reform efforts by the Lebanese government, stressing that these must be supported rather than undermined.
The ministers reaffirmed their support for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), condemning all attacks on its peacekeeping contingents, including the killing of Indonesian peacekeepers, and calling for the safety of UN personnel to be guaranteed at all times.
A call for diplomacy
Expressing condolences to all victims and their families, the ministers called on all parties to honour the November 2024 ceasefire agreement and fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701. They strongly encouraged Israel to accept the Lebanese authorities' call for direct negotiations, warning that de-escalation is urgently needed.
The signatories also pledged to continue mobilising humanitarian and emergency assistance to Lebanon, urging the broader international community to do the same. Diplomacy, they concluded, must prevail.
Source: CNA