Paris [France], April 17 : French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday welcomed the recently announced Lebanon-Israel 10-day ceasefire deal, referring to it as a truce between Hezbollah and Israel, while raising concerns over its implementation and urging restraint from all sides.
In a post on X, Macron said he "fully supports" the ceasefire between "Hezbollah and Israel", which was announced by US President Donald Trump on Thursday, but expressed concern that "it may already be undermined by the continuation of military operations."
He also emphasised the need to ensure the safety of civilians on both sides of the Lebanon-Israel border.
"I fully support the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel as announced by President Trump yesterday. I also express my concern that it may already be undermined by the continuation of military operations. I call for the safety of civilian populations on both sides of the border between Lebanon and Israel," the post read.
The French President also called on Hezbollah to renounce its weapons and urged Israel to respect Lebanese sovereignty and bring an end to the conflict.
"Hezbollah must renounce its weapons. Israel must respect Lebanese sovereignty and stop the war," the post added.
The ceasefire comes amid heightened tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, with exchanges involving Israeli armed forces and Hezbollah, which saw a major escalation following the US-Iran war in the region.
Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon had reached an agreement to initiate a 10-day ceasefire, following intensified diplomatic efforts to reduce hostilities in the region.
The US President shared that he held "excellent conversations" with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, confirming that both leaders have committed to the temporary truce as a step towards a broader resolution.
"I just had excellent conversations with the highly respected President Joseph Aoun of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu of Israel. These two leaders have agreed that, in order to achieve peace between their countries, they will formally begin a 10-day ceasefire at 5 p.m. EST," Trump stated in a post on Truth Social.
Meanwhile, the State of Qatar has also welcomed the ceasefire announcement, describing it as an important step toward de-escalation in the region.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged all parties to ensure "full and immediate compliance" with the ceasefire agreement to maintain calm and prevent further escalation.
The statement further expressed appreciation for the diplomatic efforts led by US President Donald Trump, acknowledging his role in the mediation that contributed to reaching the deal.
"The State of Qatar welcomes the ceasefire in the Republic of Lebanon as a step towards de-escalation, urging full and immediate compliance to maintain calm and prevent further regional tensions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the State of Qatar's appreciation for the efforts of HE President Donald Trump of the friendly United States of America in mediation and good offices that contributed to reaching the deal," the statement read.
Qatar also voiced hope that the ceasefire would bolster broader regional and international efforts aimed at achieving a "comprehensive, just, and sustainable peace" in the Middle East.
The ceasefire comes at a critical juncture for West Asia, following a period of significant volatility along the Israel-Lebanon border.
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