Macron tells Netanyahu that Israel must prioritise protection of civilians in Lebanon

French President Emmanuel Macron urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to safeguard civilian infrastructure in Lebanon and prioritise the protection of civilians while working toward a ceasefire, Anadolu has reported.

During his phone conversation with Netanyahu, Macron condemned the Israeli army’s actions against UNIFIL premises and expressed his wish that the UN peacekeepers would be allowed to play their full role in southern Lebanon, allowing civilians to return to their homes safely on both sides of the Lebanon-Israel border.

Since Israel launched its attack against Lebanon on 23 September, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which has around 9,500 soldiers from more than 50 countries, has accused the Israeli forces of “repeatedly” and “deliberately” firing at its positions. UNIFIL said that the Israeli army has “deliberately demolished” a watchtower and a fence at one of its positions in southern Lebanon.

The two officials also discussed the situation in Gaza. Macron claimed that last week’s killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar should be viewed as an opportunity to “launch a new negotiation phase for a ceasefire in Gaza, release all hostages and allow the delivery of large quantities of humanitarian aid.”

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Israel has carried out extensive air strikes in Lebanon targeting what it claims are Hezbollah positions, marking an escalation after a year of cross-border exchanges with the Lebanese group amid Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza.

The Lebanese health authorities report that nearly 2,500 people have been killed and over 11,500 injured in Israeli attacks since last year. On 1 October, Israel intensified the conflict by launching a ground assault into southern Lebanon.

The occupation state has also continued its brutal offensive on Gaza following a cross-border attack by Hamas last year, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. Local health authorities report more than 42,700 Palestinians have been killed, predominantly women and children, with just over 100,000 wounded. An estimated 11,000 people are missing, presumed dead, under the rubble of their homes and other civilian infrastructure destroyed by Israel.

The Israeli military operations have displaced almost the entire population of Gaza, exacerbated by an ongoing blockade leading to critical shortages of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel is currently facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice due to its actions in Gaza. It denies the allegation.

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