Prime Minister Nagib Mikati (L) and French President Emmanuel Macron at an international press conference in support of Lebanon, in Paris, Oct. 24, 2024. (Credit: Alain Jocard/AFP)
The Paris Conference, organized by France to assist Lebanon, which has been facing unprecedented Israeli escalation for a month, aimed to raise around 500 million euros to support those displaced by the conflict.
In terms of numbers, the goal was surpassed. In his closing speech presenting the event's results, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that over $800 million in humanitarian aid and $200 million in aid for the Lebanese Army had been raised. The total amount exceeds $1 billion, part of which consists of in-kind assistance.
“What’s needed is simply to shelter families, feed children, treat the injured, and continue to ensure students' education. Solutions must be found quickly to avoid further divisions among the Lebanese, as people from the South move to Beirut and other regions,” French President Emmanuel Macron said in his opening remarks. The war between Israel and Hezbollah, ongoing since Oct. 8, 2023, “must stop as soon as possible,” the French president added.
Main Donors
Some details of the commitments were shared by Jean-Noël Barrot during a press conference and later in a statement from the French foreign ministry.
Around $300 million was provided by the United States. France will release 100 million euros and send 100 tons of humanitarian supplies. Germany pledged an additional 96 million euros to help Lebanon, according to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
Jean-Noël Barrot also praised Qatar's financial commitment, without specifying the amount. The gas-rich emirate has already delivered 150 tons of aid, as noted by its Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mohammad bin Abdul Aziz al-Khulaifi. The U.K. announced a donation pledge of 15 million pounds (around $19.4 million), particularly in support of the Lebanese Army.
Jean-Noël Barrot emphasized that this aid is even more necessary due to fears that Lebanon might not recover from the "risks of disintegration," already exacerbated by previous crises. “We have trusted partnerships on the ground to ensure the funds reach the right hands. International aid arrives through various channels, including U.N. organizations and NGOs, which operate with transparency,” the French minister assured.
Calls for a cease-fire
More than 2,500 Lebanese have died so far in Israeli bombings that have struck various parts of the country, especially southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and the southern suburbs of Beirut, all predominantly Shiite areas. “The Shiite community has been hit hardest by the war,” Jean-Noël Barrot noted in his closing speech, pointing out that Lebanon’s "strength" comes from its "pluralism." The U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Lebanese Army, though not directly involved in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, have been targeted multiple times by the Israeli army, resulting in injuries and deaths among Lebanese soldiers.
These consequences prompted conference participants to stress the need for a cease-fire. “The more damage, victims, and strikes there are, the less likely we are to end terrorism and ensure everyone's security,” Emmanuel Macron remarked in his speech. He expressed deep regret that Iran had involved Hezbollah against Israel, even though Lebanon's best interests dictated staying out of the Gaza war. He also lamented that Israel continues its military operations in Lebanon, with the civilian death toll mounting. Macron noted that the cease-fire call he and U.S. President Joe Biden issued on Sept. 25 for a 21-day pause has gone unheard.
"We cannot limit ourselves to a humanitarian and security response," echoed Jean-Noël Barrot, stressing the need to continue diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. "Force alone will not guarantee lasting security," he said.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati also highlighted the urgent need for an immediate cease-fire, full implementation of U.N. Resolution 1701 — which ended the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel — and the deployment of the Lebanese Army along the borders. He emphasized the importance of resuming talks on disputed points along the Blue Line. For him, “the recruitment of additional soldiers in the Lebanese Army demonstrates our commitment to implementing Resolution 1701.”
In his speech at the Paris Conference’s opening session, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern for the safety of civilians on both sides of the Blue Line. “But we must acknowledge that the conflict has recently taken on a new nature and dimension, and each passing day only increases the misery and suffering of the Lebanese people,” he added. "An immediate cease-fire is necessary, along with significant measures toward full implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701." Guterres also warned that the growing threat of a major conflagration between Israel and Iran could destabilize the entire region.
Support for the Army
He also condemned recent Israeli attacks on UNIFIL positions. “Let’s be clear: attacks on U.N. peacekeepers are totally unacceptable, violate international law, international humanitarian law, and could constitute a war crime,” he declared. "We know who is attacking UNIFIL. I’ve seen videos clearly showing the [Israeli army] attacking UNIFIL, and it’s completely unacceptable,” said European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell, as reported by Al-Jazeera. He also advocated for strengthening the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL.
Although not the largest part of the aid package, the portion allocated to the Lebanese Army is a key focus of the Paris Conference initiative. In his speech, Emmanuel Macron indicated that the event aimed to help fund the recruitment of 6,000 additional Lebanese soldiers, enabling the deployment of 8,000 troops along the borders. "The Lebanese Army has a more important mission today than at any other time in the past." "The Lebanese Army must regain the monopoly on legitimate force," Jean-Noël Barrot added.
