French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza, underscoring its necessity for achieving peace across the broader Middle East, including Lebanon. Speaking from Beirut on Thursday, Sejourne stressed that halting the violence in Gaza is crucial to stabilizing the entire region, which remains on the brink of wider conflict.
“We are all deeply concerned about the regional situation,” Sejourne remarked following his meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a key ally of Hezbollah. He reiterated France’s support for Lebanon and highlighted the importance of a ceasefire in Gaza as a pivotal step towards securing peace in the region. Sejourne’s comments come as diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing conflict have resumed in Qatar.
The violence in Gaza, which escalated after Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, has led to near-daily exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli army. This has raised fears of a broader conflict, particularly after an Israeli strike last month killed a top Hezbollah commander. The situation further intensified when a subsequent attack, attributed to Israel, killed Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, prompting both Hezbollah and Iran to vow retaliation.
Sejourne’s visit to Beirut also aimed to bolster diplomatic efforts towards de-escalation in the region, echoing similar sentiments expressed by U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein, who visited the Lebanese capital a day earlier. Hochstein called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, emphasizing that it is essential for enabling a diplomatic resolution in Lebanon and preventing the conflict from spreading.
During his visit, Sejourne met with several senior Lebanese officials, including Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib, to convey France’s message of de-escalation. He also reaffirmed France’s commitment to supporting the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and strengthening the Lebanese army, particularly in the volatile southern region.
The ongoing clashes along the Lebanon-Israel border have resulted in significant casualties, with over 570 people killed in Lebanon, the majority of whom are Hezbollah fighters. The violence has also claimed the lives of at least 118 Lebanese civilians. On the Israeli side, including in the annexed Golan Heights, 22 soldiers and 26 civilians have been killed, according to Israeli military figures.
Sejourne’s call for a ceasefire in Gaza aligns with the broader international consensus that immediate de-escalation is essential to prevent the conflict from spiraling into a full-scale regional war. As tensions remain high, the international community continues to push for a diplomatic resolution that could bring lasting peace to the region.
