GENEVA: Switzerland has expressed deep concern over the intensifying violence in the Middle East, calling on all involved parties to prioritize dialogue and cease further escalatory actions.
The Swiss Foreign Ministry made the appeal on Sunday via X (formerly Twitter), urging all stakeholders to engage in ceasefire negotiations, particularly focusing on the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The call for restraint comes amid a dramatic escalation in violence in the region. On Sunday morning, a series of intense Israeli airstrikes targeted southern Lebanon, resulting in at least three deaths and two injuries, according to local health officials.
The Israeli military conducted over 40 airstrikes in the most severe attack since hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah intensified last October. The strikes were reportedly aimed at preempting a rocket barrage from Hezbollah.
Hezbollah, in response, claimed responsibility for launching hundreds of rockets and missiles into Israeli territory. This escalation is described by Hezbollah as the “first phase” of retaliation for the assassination of its senior commander, Fouad Shukr, who was killed in an airstrike in Beirut last month.
The violence between Hezbollah and the Israeli military has been ongoing since October 8, 2023, with daily exchanges of fire resulting in numerous casualties, mostly on the Lebanese side. The persistent conflict has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in the region.
The situation is further complicated by the broader Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023. The Israeli military campaign has resulted in over 40,405 Palestinian casualties and extensive destruction across Gaza. The offensive has left large portions of the territory in ruins, with many residents displaced, struggling with severe shortages of food, shelter, and medical care.
