New York: EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell has voiced regret that no international power, including the United States, has been able to halt Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon. Speaking on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Borrell stated that despite diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire, Netanyahu remains determined to press forward with military operations.

Borrell supported a recent initiative by France and the US for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon, where Israel has intensified strikes on Hezbollah targets. However, Israel has brushed aside these calls, continuing its offensive in a conflict that has claimed hundreds of lives.

"Nobody seems able to stop Netanyahu, neither in Gaza nor in the West Bank," Borrell said, adding that Netanyahu’s goal appears to be the total destruction of Hezbollah, similar to Israel’s nearly year-long campaign against Hamas in Gaza. He warned that such a strategy could prolong the conflict.

The EU diplomat also stressed the need for broader diplomatic efforts, criticizing reliance on the US, which has repeatedly tried, but failed, to negotiate a truce. "We cannot rely just on the US. They have tried several times and haven’t succeeded," Borrell noted.

In a defiant speech at the UN, Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s commitment to continue its military operations, vowing to achieve Israel’s objectives against Hezbollah, which has launched sporadic rocket attacks on Israel following Hamas’s October 7 assault. Despite growing international pressure, Netanyahu has rejected calls for a ceasefire, signaling Israel’s intent to press on with its military campaign.