• France has pledged €100 million in aid to Lebanon, with President Macron calling for “massive aid” and condemning Israel’s continued military offensive.
• The UN’s Philippe Lazzarini seeks further support for UNRWA to continue assisting refugees.
France has committed to providing €100 million ($108 million) in aid to Lebanon. President Emmanuel Macron has emphasised the need for “massive aid” to assist the country, where Israeli attacks have displaced over a million people.
During an international conference on Thursday, Macron condemned Israel’s continued military offensive in Lebanon and renewed his call for a ceasefire.
In relation to PM Benjamin Netanyahu, he said:
“We have been talking a lot in recent days about a war of civilisations or about civilisations that must be defended. I am not sure that we defend a civilisation by sowing barbarism ourselves.”
He added: “The war must end as soon as possible. There must be a ceasefire in Lebanon. More damage, more victims, more strikes will neither put an end to terrorism nor ensure the security of all.”
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), announced on X that he would seek additional support to ensure the organisation remains “a key humanitarian responder and a stabilising force” in aiding millions of refugees across the region.
France also aims to bolster Lebanon’s armed forces, enabling them to “deploy more broadly and efficiently” in the country’s south as part of a potential agreement that could see Hezbollah withdraw from the border. Macron has vowed to help train 6,000 extra Lebanese official forces.
Acting Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, speaking alongside Macron, revealed that his government plans to recruit 8,000 additional soldiers to implement a ceasefire and the UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution, which calls for the army’s deployment in southern Lebanon. He stressed that Lebanon would require international financial backing to equip and train its troops.
Meanwhile, Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, announced that the EU will provide the Lebanese army with €20 million ($21.59 million) this year, followed by €40 million ($43.18 million) next year.
