Shortly after talks at the United Nations between Presidents Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron, France unveiled the proposal at an emergency Security Council session.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that the two Western powers were proposing a "temporary ceasefire" of 21 days "to allow for negotiations."

"It is urgent that all actors engage resolutely on a path of de-escalation," Barrot said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and warned, "Hell is breaking loose."

Israel said it welcomed diplomacy on Lebanon but vowed to pursue its goal of degrading Hezbollah.

"We are grateful for all those who are making a sincere effort with diplomacy to avoid escalation, to avoid a full war," Israel's envoy to the United Nations, Danny Danon, told reporters before entering the session.

The violence comes after the failure to reach a ceasefire in Gaza where Israel for nearly a year has been seeking to wipe out Hamas.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that Tehran, which in recent weeks has held back on retaliatory strikes on Israel after attacks targeting Iranian interests, may no longer be restrained.

"The region is on the brink of a full-scale catastrophe. If unchecked, the world will face catastrophic consequences," he told reporters.

* This story was edited by Ahram Online.