France is asking Israel to stop its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon and move to political dialogue, French President Emmanuel Macron said.
“France is asking Israel to stop its military operations in Lebanon, not to launch a ground operation and to respect the country’s sovereignty, as well as its commitments to the UN, in particular with regard to UNIFIL peacekeepers,” Macron said at a press conference following the EU summit in Brussels.
The broadcast was shown on the official X account of the Elysee Palace.
“The elimination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar should become an opportunity to end the war. We need to stop military operations, adopt a ceasefire in Gaza and open a reliable political perspective for Israelis and Palestinians,” Macron said.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Thursday that Sinwar had been eliminated in an operation in the southern Gaza Strip.
On October 7, 2023, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. In addition, fighters of Palestinian movement Hamas infiltrated the border areas, opened fire on the military and civilians and took hostages. Israeli authorities say that about 1,200 people were killed during the raid. In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords in the Gaza Strip and announced a complete blockade of the enclave.
The death toll from the Israeli attacks has reached over 42,400, according to local health authorities.
