Amid the Israeli invasion, France pledges €100 million in aid to Lebanon

More than a million people have been displaced by Israel’s assault, and French President Macron has promised €100 million in aid to support Lebanon.

On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that his country will provide €100 million to Lebanon, which would include relief for the more than 1 million people who have been displaced by the ongoing Israeli aggression.

Macron demanded an immediate end to the fighting in southern Lebanon while making the statement at the start of an international summit to address the humanitarian catastrophe in Lebanon.

The Iran-backed militant organization Hezbollah has been the subject of massive airstrikes and ground operations by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in southern Lebanon. The French president emphasized that Israel’s military victories had not always resulted in lasting peace in Lebanon and urged both sides to agree to a cease-fire.

Macron made reference to Israel’s previous incursions into Lebanon when he stated, “Israel knows its military victories do not bring lasting victory.” Additionally, he denounced Iran for its role in escalating the crisis and urged Hezbollah to stop its “provocations.”

To discuss how to help Lebanon, a nation struggling with years of political unrest, economic hardships, and the terrible 2020 Beirut explosion, senior officials from 70 nations and international organizations convened in Paris. The explosion exacerbated Lebanon’s pre-existing issues, killing over 200 people and causing $15 billion in property damage.

The €100 million promise from France is a component of a larger initiative to raise €500 million for humanitarian aid. Macron emphasized that the money was essential for meeting the needs of the conflict’s displaced people, the majority of whom are escaping from southern Lebanon. The president also emphasized how critical it is to avoid escalating hostilities between the displaced people and local populations.

Macron’s comments coincide with the recent escalation of tensions between France and Israel, especially in light of Israel’s unwillingness to entertain a cease-fire in Gaza and Lebanon in the wake of Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israeli citizens. Macron insisted that diplomacy, not further military action, are the only way to bring about a permanent settlement, notwithstanding their recent diplomatic spats.