BEIRUT — Amid escalating conflict between Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, Sami Gemayel, head of the Lebanese Phalange Party, traveled to Paris to discuss Lebanon’s dire situation with French and European officials.
The Phalange Party’s website reported that Gemayel began his meetings with François-Xavier Bellamy, a French Member of the European Parliament and Vice President of the European People’s Party, a longstanding ally of the Phalange Party. During their discussion, Gemayel described the volatile conditions imposed on Lebanon, including significant loss of life and damage to infrastructure, which he stressed were forced upon the Lebanese people against their will.
Gemayel outlined urgent steps needed to restore Lebanon’s stability, emphasizing the importance of a unilateral ceasefire declaration by Lebanon’s Prime Minister and Parliament. He argued for immediate action to transfer all military authority to the Lebanese Army, secure the country’s borders, and implement international resolutions supporting Lebanese sovereignty.
Both parties highlighted the need for comprehensive solutions to halt regional hostilities and safeguard Lebanon’s stability. Bellamy assured Gemayel of the European Union’s commitment to Lebanon’s sovereignty and security, promising to rally EU partners and international allies to support Lebanon’s independence and prevent further encroachments on its territory.