Christian Groups Urge Lebanon's Inclusion in US-Iran Ceasefire Deal

Christian groups in Lebanon have protested their exclusion from the US-Iran ceasefire negotiation process, urging their country's inclusion in the deal. Their demands highlight concerns that Lebanon could be sidelined amid the volatile Middle East situation, drawing attention for their potential influence on international agreements.

Christian relief organizations on April 10, 2026, condemned ongoing airstrikes on Lebanon and called for an immediate ceasefire. This comes as Israel continued its military operations against Lebanon despite the US and Iran announcing a two-week truce. Around 2 p.m. local time on April 9, Israel launched airstrikes targeting Hezbollah. The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that at least 182 people were killed and 890 injured in the strikes. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun branded the attacks a "massacre." Iran asserted the airstrikes violated the ceasefire agreement, but the US and Israel maintained that Lebanon was not part of the truce.

The director for Lebanon and Syria at Tearfund reported that soaring local prices are forcing residents to make "impossible choices." "The whole country is under attack," he stated. "In a week where billions are spent on lunar exploration, rockets here are destroying hundreds of lives daily."

Leaders from major countries, including the UK, have called for Lebanon's inclusion in the current ceasefire. The head of advocacy for the Middle East at a Christian relief cooperation association insisted that Lebanon must be included in any agreement and that Israel must be prevented from causing further civilian casualties. In a joint statement, the World Council of Churches and the Middle East Council of Churches condemned Israel's attacks on Beirut as a "catastrophic security escalation." They pointed out that Lebanese and Arabs are not the only ones feeling anger over the situation in Gaza, Lebanon, and other Middle Eastern countries. The joint statement demanded an immediate cessation of violence and respect for international law and human rights, calling for the protection of civilians and guaranteed access to humanitarian aid. This aligns with past precedents during the Gaza conflict, where Israel intensified control over aid supplies, citing concerns that humanitarian aid could be weaponized by Hamas.