President Macron calls on Israel to stop military operations in Gaza and Lebanon

According to RIA Novosti, French President Emmanuel Macron said on October 17 that France asked Israel to stop military activities in Gaza and Lebanon and move to political dialogue.

“France demands that Israel cease its military operations in Lebanon, refrain from carrying out a ground operation and respect the country’s sovereignty and its obligations to the United Nations, in particular to the UNIFIL peacekeeping force,” Macron said at a press conference after the EU summit in Brussels. The meeting was broadcast on the official account of the Elysee Palace on the social network X.

According to President Macron, the desire to “increase war will not bring peace or security to Israel, nor to other countries in the region”.

“The removal of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar must be an opportunity to end the war. Military operations must cease, a ceasefire must be accepted in Gaza and a secure political outlook must be opened for Israelis and Palestinians,” Mr Macron said.

The French leader said it was necessary to provide "solid security guarantees to Israel, reform the Palestinian National Authority and move towards a two-state solution".

President Macron also reiterated his words that “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should not forget that Israel was established by a decision of the United Nations”.

At the same time, he noted that France's support for Israel “does not always mean agreeing with Prime Minister Netanyahu.”

“And sometimes it is necessary to disagree with him, this is France's responsibility” – President Macron said.

Tensions between France and Israel arose after French President Emmanuel Macron called for a halt to the supply of weapons used to fight in the Gaza Strip to Israel, calling the move a priority to resolve the situation in the region. The move drew sharp criticism from Israel, especially Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

President Macron later called the Israeli attack on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) positions “totally unacceptable,” adding that France “will not tolerate” further attacks on peacekeepers. The president recalled that 700 French soldiers serve in the ranks of UNIFIL.

Earlier on October 17, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officially confirmed the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in an operation on October 16 in the southern Gaza Strip.