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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Pakistan reports two more polio cases; Total tally now 52
ISLAMABAD: At least two more cases of poliovirus were reported in Pakistan, taking the number of infections to 52 so far this year, a report said on Friday.
“The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed the detection of two more wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases in Pakistan," an official statement said.
The fresh infections — a boy and a girl — were reported from the Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
“Genetic sequencing of the samples collected from the children is underway," the statement read. Dera Ismail Khan, one of the seven polio-endemic districts of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has reported five polio cases so far this year.
Of the 52 cases in the country this year, 24 are from Balochistan, 13 from Sindh, 13 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.
There is no cure for polio. Only multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine vaccination schedule for all children under the age of five can keep them protected.
