Three United Nations peacekeepers lost their lives while serving in southern Lebanon in the past 24 hours. Nine Lebanese paramedics were killed in just one day this weekend. The death toll from the escalation in hostilities between Hizbullah and Israel since 2 March now stands at 1,247. It includes healthcare workers, journalists and civilians going about their daily lives, as well as Lebanese soldiers not engaged in hostilities.
One thing is clear: the longer this goes on, the harder it will be to come back from. As maximalist rhetoric abounds, the prospect of a negotiated settlement is a daunting one. But we must start somewhere. An immediate truce to stop the devastation. An agreement on basic trust-building measures. A scale up of Lebanese efforts to centre the State in decisions of war and peace, addressing not only non-State arms but also the concerns and grievances used to justify them. And, the commencement of talks between Lebanon and Israel. These are the first, mutually reinforcing steps needed to end recurrent cycles of violence.
Tactical military gains may produce short-term wins, on and off the battlefield. But they risk irrevocable, long-term damage to the stability and prosperity both Lebanese and Israelis deserve. It is time to think in the long-term; it is time to move towards a process which builds, rather than destroys.