France’s foreign ministry has said the European Union’s association agreement with Israel could be reopened for discussion in light of what it calls “disproportionate” Israeli strikes on Lebanon.
Speaking today, Pascal Confavreux, spokesperson for the ministry, stated that given the gravity of yesterday’s events in Lebanon and the situation in the West Bank: “One cannot exclude that the discussion on the suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement will reopen, in addition to national sanctions.”
He added that while Israel has the right to defend itself, its actions are “not only unacceptable but also disproportionate and lead de facto to an impasse”.
The remarks come one day after a major wave of Israeli air strikes across Lebanon yesterday.
According to Lebanese authorities, the simultaneous strikes, carried out without prior warning, killed at least 203 people and injured around 1,000 others in a matter of minutes.
Provisional figures cited in French media put the death toll from the attacks at more than 250.
The strikes targeted central Beirut and other regions, hitting densely populated areas.
French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot also condemned the operation this morning on radio France Inter, describing the strikes as “intolerable” because they undermine a fragile temporary ceasefire brokered between the US and Iran.
He said France fully supports Lebanon’s national day of mourning declared for today.
The French position revives debate inside the EU about the 1995 EU-Israel Association Agreement, whose human rights and democratic principles are listed as essential elements.
While no formal proposal for suspension has yet been tabled at EU level, the latest comments from Paris increase pressure on the European Commission and other member states to examine Israel’s compliance with the agreement’s conditions.
The intensity of Israel’s campaign in Lebanon remains high.
Since the current escalation intensified earlier this year, the conflict has claimed more than 1,500 lives in Lebanon according to local tallies, with more than 1 million people displaced.
Yesterday’s strikes were among the heaviest in recent weeks and struck areas beyond traditional Hezbollah strongholds.
Lebanese Christians, who constitute about one-third of the population, have expressed growing concern over civilian casualties in mixed or predominantly Christian neighbourhoods far from frontline zones.
The strikes have compounded the humanitarian crisis in a country already weakened by years of political and economic instability.
Pakistan, the country which is hosting the talks on the ceasefire, is also critical of Israel and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has denounced the Israeli “aggression” against Lebanon.
I spoke with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam of Lebanon, this evening.
I strongly condemned Israel’s ongoing aggression against Lebanon and offered condolences over the loss of thousands of precious lives in Lebanon as a result of these hostilities.
I reaffirmed…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 9, 2026
