Lebanon needs €500, over $588, million over the next six months to address a worsening humanitarian crisis caused by the Israeli war, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Tuesday, Anadolu reports.
Speaking at a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Salam said he has asked Lebanese judicial authorities to follow up on the killing of a French peacekeeper serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and to hold those responsible accountable, the state news agency NNA reported.
UNIFIL said it has launched an investigation after one of its positions “came under small-arms fire from non-state actors” in the southern village of Ghanduriyah on Saturday. Hezbollah has denied involvement in the attack.
Salam stressed the importance of maintaining the ceasefire with Israel, saying he discussed plans for an international conference to support the Lebanese army and security forces.
“Lebanon did not choose this war; it was imposed on it,” he said, calling for full respect of the ceasefire agreement.
READ: Israeli artillery shelling violates ceasefire in southern Lebanon
On the costs of the Israeli war, Salam said that “Lebanon needs €500 million to confront the humanitarian crisis in the coming six months.”
He added that sustainable stability depends on Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese territory, the return of displaced people, and the release of detainees.
Lebanon “will continue pursuing diplomacy, including direct talks with Israel, and plans to head to Washington with the goal of securing a full Israeli withdrawal,” the premier said.
Lebanese media reported that Washington is expected to host a second round of preliminary peace talks Thursday between Lebanon and Israel at the ambassadorial level, although no official announcement has been made.
Israel continues to violate a 10-day ceasefire announced last week by US President Donald Trump.
Since March 2, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed 2,294 people, wounded 7,544, and displaced more than 1 million, according to official figures.
READ: US asks Lebanon to repeal ban on ties with Israel — Israeli daily
