Hundreds of Lebanese demonstrated in Paris on Sunday to demand an immediate ceasefire, while more than 700 people, including many civilians, were killed in Lebanon by the Israeli army in a week.
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Since Monday September 23, more than 700 people, including many civilians, have been killed in Lebanon by the Israeli army and 90,000 people have fled. And as fear of ground intervention grows in the country, the Lebanese diaspora is worried. There are around 50,000 in France. Several of them gathered on Sunday at Place de la République and at Notre-Dame-du-Liban cathedral, in the 5th arrondissement of Paris.
As we leave the cathedral, the faces are marked. All the faithful we met told us they were worried about the future of their country. “It’s sad, it’s depressing, it’s stressful. We don’t know anymore, one of them whispers. In fact, we don’t know anything anymore. We don’t know what’s going to happen anymore.”
A fear reinforced by the death of Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah. Nabil is not sure if it is positive. “Even if we do not support Hezbollah and its actions, it is a political party which represents more than a third of the Lebanese population, he says. I think that with his death there will begin to be anger in this community which could perhaps increase the violence.”
For Patrick, Nasrallah served as a pretext to attack Lebanon. He now fears a ground military intervention from Israel. “However, they continue the bombings. So we ask ourselves the question of the real motivations. Isn’t it just a hidden annexation that is taking place at this very moment?”
This concern is also shared by the Franco-Lebanese present at Place de la République on Sunday. Among them, Cynthia, Lebanese flag tied around her shoulders. Like many, she calls for an immediate ceasefire. “If that was the argument, that we are fighting a political party that is destroying Lebanon, whether it is true or not, good, very good. Now, you have done it. And so, After ?”
“And unfortunately, I feel like this is all a conspiracy against the Lebanese. It’s just us who are suffering, really.”
Cynthia, protester in Parisat franceinfo
The demonstrators also demand a stronger commitment from France to Lebanon, stronger than simple words.