French President Macron urges halt to arms deliveries to Israel for Gaza attacks
Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday called for a suspension of arms deliveries to Israel amid its ongoing military operation in Gaza, emphasising the need for a political solution. In an interview with France Inter, Macron stated that "the priority is that we return to a political solution and stop delivering weapons to fight in Gaza." He clarified that France is not providing arms to Israel.
The United States supplies approximately $3 billion in military aid to Israel annually. In May, the US State Department acknowledged it was "reasonable to assess" that Israeli forces used these arms in ways that could violate humanitarian law but did not block further shipments. Similarly, the United Kingdom suspended some arms exports to Israel in September, citing potential violations of international humanitarian law.
Macron reiterated his concern that ongoing hostilities, which have now affected neighboring Lebanon, could exacerbate regional instability. He stressed that preventing an escalation in Lebanon is crucial, as "Lebanon cannot become a new Gaza."
The attacks on Gaza have already resulted in significant casualties. Israel's offensive on Gaza has led to over 41,825 deaths, mostly civilians, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
