A few days after the bombing of the Houthi positions in Yemen by Washington and London, Paris refused to join for “diplomatic” reasons.
Paris “decided not to join” the strikes by the American-British coalition against the Houthis in Yemen “to avoid any escalation” in the region, argued Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday, reiterating his call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Washington and London bombed Houthi positions in Yemen last weekend in an attempt to stop their attacks in the Red Sea, which they say they are carrying out in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.
France decided not to “join” these “preemptive strikes” against the Houthis “because we have a posture that seeks to avoid any escalation,” said the French president, estimating that the issue was not “military” but “diplomatic”.
Israel warned
Emmanuel Macron also warned Israel about the continuation of operations that are not sufficiently targeted in Gaza.
“I say this because it is also in the long-term security interest of Israel and continuing today’s operations as they are conducted, is taking a risk in the long term, given what it generates throughout the region, for Israel’s security itself,” he argued.
“So, we will continue diplomatic initiatives, resolutions, discussions to call for a ceasefire, and I will continue bilateral contact to try to obtain it in a very concrete way,” said Emmanuel Macron.
“That is now the priority, because we know, it is what will allow us to reach out to the populations, to protect them,” he added.
The head of state also announced the organization on February 7th of a tribute to the victims of the attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in Israel.
“On February 7th, at the monument for the victims of terrorism” located on the esplanade of Les Invalides in Paris, “I will pay tribute to these victims alongside their loved ones, their families, and all those who will want to join us there,” he said.
Emmanuel Macron recalled that France had “lost 41 of its children” in these attacks and that it still had “three hostages” in the Gaza Strip. “We are fighting step by step with the Israeli authorities, with Qatar, which has a decisive role in this matter, with several other colleagues to free them.”
