Lebanon cease-fire within reach: Official

UN doubles down on appeals for peace as Gaza humanitarian situation worsens

The United Nations Security Council and senior officials have doubled down on their calls for a cease-fire amid reports that a deal could be within reach in Lebanon.

The appeals came on Monday during a briefing to the 15-member Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, just days after the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders and after the US veto of a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

Elias Bou Saab, the deputy parliament speaker of Lebanon, told Reuters there were "no serious obstacles "left in the Washington-proposed cease-fire with Israel, "unless (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu changes his mind".