2024-01-03 01:40:34
Following the alleged Israeli-initiated killing of a Hamas leader in Beirut, French President Emmanuel Macron called on the Israeli government to “avoid any escalatory behavior, particularly in Lebanon.” The Elysee Palace in Paris announced this on Tuesday evening after Macron’s phone call with Benny Gantz, minister in Israel’s war cabinet, according to media reports.
France will continue to convey these messages of restraint to all actors directly or indirectly involved in the area, it said. According to the Islamist Hamas, the deputy head of its political bureau, Saleh al-Aruri, was killed in an explosion in the Lebanese capital. The terrorist organization blamed Israel.
The Hezbollah militia then announced retaliation and launched its first attack on Israel that evening after Al-Arouri’s death. Regular shelling between Hezbollah and Israel’s army near the border has increased since the Gaza war began three months ago. Hezbollah is considered to be far more powerful than Hamas.
The Israeli government’s security advisor had previously apparently tried to defuse the situation after the death of a Hamas leader in an explosion in Beirut. The alleged attack was aimed solely at Hamas, Mark Regev emphasized to the US broadcaster MSNBC. “Whoever did this, it must be clear that this was not an attack on the Lebanese state. It was not even an attack on Hezbollah.”
He continued: “Whoever carried out this attack was very surgical and targeted a Hamas target. Because Israel is at war,” he said without finishing the sentence. The Israeli army has been waging war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip since the massacre on October 7th.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s senior adviser stressed that Israel had taken no responsibility for the incident. At the same time, Regev said Israel’s leadership had in the past identified leading terrorists involved in the killing of Israeli civilians as legitimate targets. However, this is a general principle and has nothing to do with the current situation.
Israeli media speculated that Regev was trying to use the interview to discourage Lebanese Hezbollah from reacting harshly. The Iranian-backed Shiite militia announced retaliation after Al-Aruri’s death. She spoke of “a dangerous attack on Lebanon”, its people and security.
1704247091
#Macron #calls #Israel #show #restraint #Lebanon