French President Calls for Halt to Sale of Weapons Used in Gaza

Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, called for a halt to the sale of weapons used in Gaza as part of broader efforts to find a political solution in the region on Saturday, October 14. According to a report by Reuters, France is not considered a major supplier of arms to Israel, with weapon sales valued at approximately $33 million based on the annual arms export report from the French Ministry of Defense. Macron told France Inter radio that he believes a political solution is a priority and that the sale of weapons used in Gaza should be stopped. He added that France does not export any weapons that are used in Gaza. In another part of his remarks, the French President stated that tensions should be avoided and that the people of Lebanon should not become victims of this crisis, emphasizing that Lebanon should not turn into another Gaza. Macron's statements come as Jean-Noël Barrot, the French Foreign Minister, is on a four-day trip to the Middle East. This trip, aimed at reviving diplomatic efforts for peace in the region, will conclude in Israel on Monday, October 16. A French helicopter carrier has been dispatched to the eastern Mediterranean, while airlines have canceled flights due to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. A Dutch military aircraft evacuated 185 European citizens from Lebanon.