PARIS — French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot reiterated on Thursday the call expressed earlier in the day by President Emmanuel Macron for an immediate cease-fire in Lebanon, stressing the historic ties between Paris and Beirut and the solidarity between the two peoples.
Addressing the press at the conclusion in Paris of the International Conference in Support of Lebanon’s People and Sovereignty, which was initiated by Macron, Barrot said that they had managed to secure contributions of $800 million for humanitarian aid and $200 million for Lebanese security forces. The conference brought together 70 countries and 15 nongovernmental organizations already working in Lebanon.
Israel launched a ground invasion against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon in late September, following nearly a year of frequent exchanges of cross-border fire after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel. Barrot on Thursday said more than 2,500 people had been killed and "almost 1 million" displaced in the recent fighting.
Barrot said that France had already transferred to Lebanon by air some 40 tons of humanitarian aid, and it intends to send another 100 tons in the coming days. According to the French minister, Paris pledged on Thursday to donate $100 million, and Washington pledged $300 million. The French Foreign Ministry has not yet released a detailed list of contributions.
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