Czechia blocks EU statement urging ceasefire in Lebanon

Czechia has blocked a proposed European Union joint statement calling for an "immediate ceasefire" between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah, preventing the EU-27 from issuing a unified stance on the escalating conflict, according to a report by Euronews, which was confirmed by Czech diplomatic sources.

The Czech Foreign Ministry informed the Czech News Agency that it opposed the statement because it perceived it as limiting Israel's right to self-defense against Hezbollah militants. Czech officials emphasized that the proposed wording failed to acknowledge Israel's need to defend itself from attacks by Hezbollah, which has been shelling northern Israel for months.

The Czech position, confirmed by multiple diplomats and European officials, led EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to release his own individual statement on the matter.