ANKARA

France is "extremely concerned" about the situation in Lebanon, which is marked by an increase in cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israel, according to an official statement.

The French Foreign Ministry on Thursday urged all parties “to show the utmost restraint and to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.”

“France remains fully committed to preventing any risk of escalation on the Blue Line and promoting a diplomatic solution,” it added.

Tensions have risen along Lebanon's border with Israel amid cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israeli forces as Tel Aviv pressed ahead with its deadly offensive against the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 37,700 victims since October following an attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas.

Over eight months into the Israeli war, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, whose latest ruling ordered Tel Aviv to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where over a million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.