The world pleads with Israel and Hezbollah to step back from disaster: UK, US and allies call for 21-day ceasefire as IDF prepares for Lebanon ground invasion and Middle East holds its breath

The UK has joined the US, France and a host of allies in calling for an immediate temporary ceasefire in Lebanon, warning the escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah is 'intolerable' and could plunge the Middle East into chaos. 

In a joint statement, the 12-strong bloc called for a 21-day ceasefire 'to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement', as well as a ceasefire in Gaza.

The call was supported by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who said flatly: 'Hell is breaking loose.' 

But their hopes of salvaging a peaceful solution were seemingly dismissed by Israel, with IDF chief Herzi Halevi last night visiting soldiers close to the border to tell them they must prepare for a ground invasion of Lebanon.

Halevi declared: 'We are attacking all day, both to prepare the ground for the possibility of your entry [into Lebanon], but also to continue striking Hezbollah.

'Hezbollah today expanded its [range] of fire. Later today, it will receive a very strong response. Prepare yourselves,' he said, before adding: 'your boots... will enter enemy territory.'

Halevi's bleak declaration came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hezbollah was being hit 'with blows it never imagined' and vowed to ensure the thousands of Israelis evacuated from the northern border would soon be able to return to their homes and jobs.

Yesterday's appeal for a last-ditch ceasefire was signed by the UK, the US, Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

'The situation between Lebanon and Israel since October 8th, 2023 is intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation,' it read.

'This is in nobody's interest, neither of the people of Israel nor of the people of Lebanon. It is time to conclude a diplomatic settlement that enables civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes in safety.

'Diplomacy however cannot succeed amid an escalation of this conflict.'

The statement calls for the governments of Lebanon and Israel to 'endorse the temporary ceasefire immediately... and to give a real chance to a diplomatic settlement'.

It continues: 'We are then prepared to fully support all diplomatic efforts to conclude an agreement between Lebanon and Israel within this period, building on efforts over the last months, that ends this crisis altogether.'

Meanwhile, Iran - Hezbollah's chief backer - said late Wednesday that it would 'stand with the people of Lebanon with all means' if required.

But Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi warned the Middle East faces a full-scale 'catastrophe' if the clashes continue to gather pace and urged the United Nations Security Council to 'intervene to restore peace and security'.

The Islamic Republic's reformist president Masoud Pezeshkian, is currently in New York at the UN General Assembly, where he expressed a willingness to reengage with the West and revive the 2015 nuclear deal.

Pezeshkian's presence in New York, where he is sure to be meeting with Western politicians on the sidelines of the assembly, is a move that analysts said suggested he may have been granted permission from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to try to avert a war in the Middle East.

This has not been taken kindly to by more hardline Hezbollah supporters and Lebanese MPs, who expect full military support from their powerful ally.

After Araghchi said on Monday Iran was willing to work with the West to discuss its nuclear programme, Lebanese MP Mark Daou declared: 'They negotiate over our corpses.'

US President Joe Biden and France's President Emmanuel Macron met on Wednesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss new ceasefire proposals, and are the two heads of state leading calls for restraint.

France pressed the UN security council to hold an emergency session on the matter soon and Macron said he would send his foreign minister to the former French administration by the end of the week.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also urged Israel and Hezbollah to step back, saying all-out war would be 'disastrous' for the region and its people.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who appears set on continuing to wage war, said via his spokesperson David Mencer that while 'we favour a diplomatic solution... we have tried... for eleven and a half months'.

'Yesterday our president described the US diplomat [involved in negotiations] as talented but with all his talent he hasn't been able to negotiate any sort of climbdown from Hezbollah,' Mencer said.

Netanyahu delayed his departure for New York until Thursday, where he too is due to speak at the UN General Assembly. 

Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed more than 600 people since Monday, including scores of women and children, according to the latest figures by the Lebanese health ministry.

The ministry said that at least 72 people were killed in strikes and 400 injured on Wednesday alone.

Netanyahu has promised 'total victory' over Hamas and the return of all the hostages held in Gaza - goals that many believe are simply unachievable.

What's more, many analysts and observers accuse Netanyahu of having a personal stake in forging on with the war.

His governing coalition relies on far-right ministers who want to permanently reoccupy the Palestinian enclave and destroy Hezbollah's ability to threaten Israel - and they have threatened to bring down the government if Netanyahu concedes too much.

That would force early elections that could drive him from power at a time when he is on trial for corruption - charges that he will not face while war rages on.

For many on both sides of the border, the violence of the past two weeks in Lebanon has sparked bitter memories of the 2006 war that killed 1,200 people in Lebanon, most of them civilians, and 160 Israelis, most of them soldiers.

According to the UN, the latest violence has sparked an exodus of around 90,000 people from their homes in traditional Hezbollah strongholds for safer areas elsewhere in the tiny Mediterranean country.

Yesterday's desperate plea by members of the international community for a ceasefire was issued after Britain's Prime Minister urged Britons to leave Lebanon immediately by the remaining commercial routes.

Sir Keir said: 'I have a very important message for British nationals in Lebanon which is: the time to leave is now.

'The contingency plans are being ramped up but don't wait for those, there are still commercial flights. It's very important that they hear my message, which is to leave and to leave immediately.'

Britain's Ministry of Defence has already drawn up plans for a desperate evacuation of UK citizens from Lebanon, with a 700-strong force of Royal Marine commandos, sailors and combat ­engineers en-route to the region.

The MoD's rescue mission template, known in military circles as 'Operation Meteoric', could see commandos making beach landings in Lebanon with UK citizens escorted onto a flotilla of military vessels.

Such plans would also see warships and RAF jets already stationed in Cyprus tasked with facilitating the rescue mission, with thousands of Brits still stuck in the country.

Some have reported that their families have not received a response from the British consulate as flights out of Beirut are cancelled amid the ongoing Israeli airstrikes.

Britain's Defence Secretary John Healey said on Tuedsay: 'Events in the past hours and days have demonstrated how volatile this situation is which is why our message is clear – British nationals should leave now. 

'We continue to urge all sides to step back from conflict to prevent further tragic loss of life.

'Government is ensuring all preparations are in place to support British nationals should the situation deteriorate.'