Egypt backs France’s call to halt weapons sales to Israel

Egypt has aligned with Jordan and Qatar in supporting French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent call to suspend arms exports to Israel, following the country's actions in Gaza and Lebanon, according to Middle East Monitor.

In a statement released on Sunday, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed that the halt of arms sales to Israel mirrors the growing international dissatisfaction with Israel’s military operations in the region. The statement also urged the global community to embrace this initiative and push for an immediate, lasting ceasefire.

Macron's proposal for a coordinated international response came during an interview on French television, as reported by Al Jazeera.

“I think that today, the priority is that we return to a political solution, that we stop delivering weapons to fight in Gaza,” Macron told France Inter.

The United States remains Israel’s largest arms supplier, accounting for roughly 69% of its weapons imports, according to the BBC, which cites data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Germany follows as the second-largest provider, responsible for about 30% of Israel’s imports.

In September, the UK announced it would suspend some of its arms exports to Israel due to concerns that the weapons could be used in ways that breach international humanitarian law.

Macron also stated that France is not currently supplying arms to Israel, and criticized Israel’s deployment of ground troops into Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sharply criticized Macron’s remarks.

“As Israel fights the forces of barbarism led by Iran, all civilized nations should stand unwaveringly with Israel,” Netanyahu said in a statement, according to Al Jazeera. “Yet, President Macron and other Western leaders are now advocating for arms embargoes against Israel. Shame on them.”

The International Criminal Court is reportedly considering issuing an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, along with senior Hamas leaders, citing potential accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity.