French President Emmanuel Macron announced today that the country’s foreign minister will travel to Lebanon as part of efforts to stop the escalation of the war, calling on Israel and Hezbollah to immediately end hostilities..

“There cannot be, there must not be a war in Lebanon,” he said in his address to the UN General Assembly in New York.

“We urge Israel to stop this escalation in Lebanon and the Hezbollah to stop these rocket launches into Israel. We urge all those who provide Hezbollah with the means to do so to stop,” he adds.

For too long Hezbollah has run the risk of dragging Lebanon into war. Israel cannot simply expand its activities without consequences. France demands that everyone respect the obligations along the Blue Line,” French President Emmanuel Macron said.

“We will act to ensure that voices are heard in favor of diplomacy, which is necessary to save civilians and prevent a regional conflagration. We cannot have war in Lebanon. We urge Israel to stop this escalation and Hezbollah to stop rocket launches into Israel,” he said.

“France’s position from day one has been that we strongly condemn the unprecedented and terrible terrorist attack carried out by Hamas against Israel on October 7. We ask once again for the release of all the hostages – including several French compatriots,” Macron added.

“Israel has a legitimate right to protect its people and deny Hamas the means to attack them again. No one here could have suffered something like October 7 without consequences. However, Israel’s war on Gaza has pulled too far,” Macron said.

“The tens of thousands of civilian casualties in Palestine cannot be justified. There is no explanation for it. Too many innocent people have died and we mourn them too,” he said.