Burnt vehicles lie amid the destruction a day after Israeli airstrikes that targeted the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh on October 17, 2024. Lebanon's health ministry on October 16 said 16 people were killed, including the city's mayor, and 52 others wounded in Israeli strikes on municipal buildings in Nabatiyeh. (Photo by AFP)

French diplomacy has struggled to convey a clear stance on the deadly conflict between Israel and Palestinian groups. President Emmanuel Macron, after reprimanding his ministers for sharing his private remarks from meetings at the Élysée Palace, is now trying to regain control. France has called on Israel to end its military operations in Lebanon, "not to expand its ground operations there," and to "respect the country’s sovereignty," the French President stated. Macron reaffirmed France's unwavering support for Lebanon, saying, "For France, Lebanon’s sovereignty is an essential cause that it will always defend," during a press conference following a European summit in Brussels.

Macron also spoke at length about the "grave responsibility" of Iran and Hezbollah in triggering the Israeli operations in Lebanon.

Referring to the Lebanese nation, which is deeply cherished by many French citizens, Macron delivered a poetic remark, saying: "Lebanon is far greater than itself."

To move from words to action, Macron announced at the same Brussels press conference that Paris will host a major meeting on October 24 to support Lebanon. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the goal of the summit is to rally the international community to aid the Lebanese population and support the country’s institutions. France is eager to meet the protection needs of the Lebanese people.

Caught between diplomatic shifts regarding the Middle East conflict, Macron appears to be repositioning himself equidistantly between Israel and Palestine, continuing to advocate for an independent Palestinian state.

Meloni in Lebanon! A touching moment of personal solidarity with the suffering Lebanese nation.

The plight of Lebanon and its suffering people undoubtedly resonates with the French President. However, he seems to be following the broader diplomatic tide rather than exerting decisive influence over events.

Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made a bold move by visiting Beirut, a city scarred by conflict. Her visit represents a concrete diplomatic gesture on Italy’s part. This caught both Brussels and Paris off guard.

Meloni in Lebanon! A touching moment of personal solidarity with the suffering Lebanese nation.

Her visit recalls the striking trip made by François Mitterrand on June 28, 1992. At the height of the Balkan war, the French President traveled to Sarajevo, and for a few hours, the guns fell silent. Mitterrand left an ongoing European summit in Portugal to head directly to Sarajevo, stunning global diplomacy with his sudden move. Back then, French diplomacy carried weight. But that was in the past.