France's Macron says sales of arms used in Gaza should be halted
"I believe that today, the priority is to return to a political solution and to stop delivering weapons to carry out the fighting in Gaza," Macron said.
Shipments of arms used in the conflict in Gaza should be stopped as part of a broader effort to find a political solution, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday.
France is not a major weapons provider for Israel, shipping military equipment worth 30 million euros ($33 million) last year, according to the defense ministry's annual arms exports report.
"I think the priority today is to get back to a political solution (and) that arms used to fight in Gaza are halted. France doesn't ship any," Macron told France Inter radio.
"Our priority now is to avoid escalation. The Lebanese people must not, in turn, be sacrificed; Lebanon cannot become another Gaza," he added.
Macron's comments come as his Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot is on a four-day trip to the Middle East, wrapping up on Monday in Israel as Paris looks to play a role in reviving diplomatic efforts.
Just two weeks ago, Macron met with World Jewish Congress (WJC) President Ronald S. Lauder n at the Élysée Palace in Paris to discuss issues affecting France's Jewish community, the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, and the situation of the hostages.
In the meeting, Macron emphasized the importance of resolving the Israel-Hamas conflict, including the safe return of the remaining hostages.
Macron also condemned Iran's attack on Israel on Tuesday and mobilized military resources in the Middle East on Wednesday in a sign of its commitment to Israel's security.
Responses from Jewish orgs.
The CRIF (Representative council of French Jewish institutions) condemned the embargo, saying that "calling for Israel to be deprived of weapons is not playing into the hands of peace, it is playing into the hands of Hamas and Hezbollah."
It also added that 48 French people were murdered by Hamas on October 7 and two remain in captivity.
"Depriving Israel of the ability to defend itself would be a bonus granted to terrorism, including that which strikes France," CRIF concluded.
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