The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, judged on Thursday that it would be a “mistake” for the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to “reject” the proposal for a ceasefire on Israel’s border with Lebanon, as this decision would be considered “responsible” for eventual regional escalation.

“The proposal made is a well established proposal. It didn’t happen out of thin air,” Mr Macron pointed out during a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Montreal.

The proposal was “prepared” and was “an object of negotiation” with “Prime Minister Netanyahu and his groups”, both “by the Americans” and “by ourselves”, explained the French president.

“I think it would be a mistake on the part of the (Israeli) prime minister to refuse it, because he would be taking responsibility for a regional escalation, obviously the new victims in the ranks of civilians in Lebanon, as well as a possible further escalation, which will not one could limit,” he warned.

“There is an absolute need to agree a ceasefire immediately,” Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau said, speaking of “horrific images.”

The US, the EU and their allies, including Arab states, have issued a joint call for a 21-day ceasefire on the Israeli-Lebanese border as a barrage of Israeli airstrikes has killed hundreds of people and forced tens of thousands more to flee. leave their homes in Lebanese territory this week.

The call for a three-week ceasefire came hours after Israel’s army chief, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, told his men to prepare for possible ground operations against Hezbollah.

The French president also said that he wants to believe that Israel’s first reactions to the proposal are not “definitive” and referred to the possibility of a new emergency meeting of the Security Council on the issue, in order to “increase the pressure”.