Macron urges halt to arms for Israel

French President Emmanuel Macron's call to halt arms deliveries to Israel for use in Gaza drew immediate criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leading to a tense phone conversation between the two leaders on Sunday.

Israel launched an intense bombing campaign in Lebanon on Oct 1 and has deployed troops across the border, escalating the year-long skirmishes that have run parallel to its conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

In an interview with broadcaster France Inter on Saturday, Macron said: "I think that today, the priority is that we return to a political solution, that we stop delivering weapons to fight in Gaza."

He went on to say "France is not supplying them" in reference to the role of the United States as Israel's main arms supplier, and he warned of "a resentment that is being born, a hatred that is being fueled by this".

In a video released by his office, Netanyahu responded sharply to Macron's comments, stating: "President Macron and other Western leaders are now calling for arms embargoes against Israel. Shame on them.

"Israel will win with or without their support. But their shame will continue long after this war has been won."

Macron's office stated that France is a "steadfast friend of Israel", adding that Netanyahu's reaction was "excessive and detached from the friendship between France and Israel".

According to the president's office, Macron reaffirmed France's "unwavering commitment" to Israel during the Sunday phone call with Netanyahu, which was described as being held "in complete frankness".

Netanyahu told Macron that Israel's fight against the Hezbollah group would help "change the reality" in Lebanon and bring stability to the entire Middle East, according to a statement from his office.

Speaking in Paris on Sunday, Macron repeated his concern over the conflict in Gaza, and criticized Israel's move to deploy ground forces into Lebanese territory, reported Agence France-Presse.

Macron said: "I regret that Prime Minister Netanyahu has made another choice, has taken this responsibility, in particular, for ground operations on Lebanese soil."

Macron's office confirmed his support for suspending Gaza-bound arms exports, citing the need for a ceasefire to "clear the way to the political solutions needed for the security of Israel and the whole Middle East".

In September, the United Kingdom decided to suspend certain arms exports to Israel, due to humanitarian concerns.

Monday marked one year since the Oct 7 Hamas attack on Israel, when about 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage. Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry reports more than 41,000 deaths in the territory since then.