01:04The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Josep Borrell criticised the 'proportionality' of Israel's operations in Lebanon and called for an end to the ongoing fighting in the region on Thursday.
"I think there is not a proportionality between the attacks and the casualties, civilians. 2,400 people, civilians being killed, 1.2 million displaced people - among them 400,000 children. The country is under great distress, so this has to end," he told reporters ahead of a meeting in Paris.
"Certainly, Israel has the right to defend against the Hezbollah attacks, but every right has a limit and the limit is international law and collateral damages that you create on civilian population. 2400 people being killed is certainly not showing proportionality," he continued.
Borrell also said that the Lebanese Army needs to be 'better trained and better equipped' to be able to safeguard the country's borders and 'sovereignty'.
This comes after the high representative met with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib as well as President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the International Conference in Support of Lebanon hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron - who pledged 100 million Euros in aid for Lebanon this week.
Israel has conducted a ground incursion into parts of southern Lebanon, as well as an ongoing campaign of airstrikes on Hezbollah targets over the past month. Lebanon's Ministry of Health stated that over 2,500 people have been killed at time of publication.
The current escalation between Israel and Hezbollah began last month with explosions of wireless communications devices used by Hezbollah, which killed dozens and injured thousands. The sides have exchanged cross-border strikes since the outbreak of the 2023 Gaza war.
'This has to end' - EU's Borrell says Israel's right to self-defence 'has a limit' as he calls for an end to fighting in Lebanon
The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Josep Borrell criticised the 'proportionality' of Israel's operations in Lebanon and called for an end to the ongoing fighting in the region on Thursday.
"I think there is not a proportionality between the attacks and the casualties, civilians. 2,400 people, civilians being killed, 1.2 million displaced people - among them 400,000 children. The country is under great distress, so this has to end," he told reporters ahead of a meeting in Paris.
"Certainly, Israel has the right to defend against the Hezbollah attacks, but every right has a limit and the limit is international law and collateral damages that you create on civilian population. 2400 people being killed is certainly not showing proportionality," he continued.
Borrell also said that the Lebanese Army needs to be 'better trained and better equipped' to be able to safeguard the country's borders and 'sovereignty'.
This comes after the high representative met with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib as well as President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the International Conference in Support of Lebanon hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron - who pledged 100 million Euros in aid for Lebanon this week.
Israel has conducted a ground incursion into parts of southern Lebanon, as well as an ongoing campaign of airstrikes on Hezbollah targets over the past month. Lebanon's Ministry of Health stated that over 2,500 people have been killed at time of publication.
The current escalation between Israel and Hezbollah began last month with explosions of wireless communications devices used by Hezbollah, which killed dozens and injured thousands. The sides have exchanged cross-border strikes since the outbreak of the 2023 Gaza war.
The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Josep Borrell criticised the 'proportionality' of Israel's operations in Lebanon and called for an end to the ongoing fighting in the region on Thursday.
"I think there is not a proportionality between the attacks and the casualties, civilians. 2,400 people, civilians being killed, 1.2 million displaced people - among them 400,000 children. The country is under great distress, so this has to end," he told reporters ahead of a meeting in Paris.
"Certainly, Israel has the right to defend against the Hezbollah attacks, but every right has a limit and the limit is international law and collateral damages that you create on civilian population. 2400 people being killed is certainly not showing proportionality," he continued.
Borrell also said that the Lebanese Army needs to be 'better trained and better equipped' to be able to safeguard the country's borders and 'sovereignty'.
This comes after the high representative met with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib as well as President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the International Conference in Support of Lebanon hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron - who pledged 100 million Euros in aid for Lebanon this week.
Israel has conducted a ground incursion into parts of southern Lebanon, as well as an ongoing campaign of airstrikes on Hezbollah targets over the past month. Lebanon's Ministry of Health stated that over 2,500 people have been killed at time of publication.
The current escalation between Israel and Hezbollah began last month with explosions of wireless communications devices used by Hezbollah, which killed dozens and injured thousands. The sides have exchanged cross-border strikes since the outbreak of the 2023 Gaza war.