by Richard Sanders, Staff Writer
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 88 mainly French-speaking nations are calling for an “immediate” ceasefire in Lebanon. During the 19th Francophonie Summit in Paris, he also mentioned that these countries have agreed to hold an international conference to support Lebanon later this month.
“We stand in solidarity with Lebanon. We have unanimously called for an immediate and lasting ceasefire and reaffirmed our dedication to reducing tensions in the region. Our goal is peace and security for everyone,” Macron stated.
These remarks come in response to an Israeli ground operation that began late September aimed at targeting Hezbollah positions near the Israeli border. Since the onset of the conflict in Gaza late last year, Hezbollah and Israel have engaged in nearly daily cross-border exchanges, leading to the displacement of thousands and, recently, the deaths of at least 1,400 individuals, including civilians and fighters, in Lebanon within just two weeks.
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Ziad Makary echoed Macron’s sentiments, stating that Beirut continues to seek a ceasefire and a diplomatic resolution despite ongoing Israeli assaults and the recent killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. He criticized Israel for lacking boundaries in their military actions.
In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Macron’s remarks, especially the notion that France might halt arms sales to Israel. He emphasized that Israel is defending itself against multiple threats and criticized Western leaders for calling for an arms embargo against Israel.
Meanwhile, thousands protested in Paris in support of Lebanon and Gaza while denouncing French arms sales to Israel. Protest leaders urged the government to stop its complicity in the conflict, highlighting the impact of continued military support on the situation in the region.
France has historically supported Israel’s right to self-defense, maintaining significant arms sales, with reports showing that since 2015, France has issued 767 export licenses to Israel, averaging €20 million in military equipment sales annually. In April, 11 NGOs sought to halt these sales, citing civilian casualties in Gaza, but their request was denied by the court in May.