After earlier telling his Iranian counterpart to "avoid a cycle of reprisals that would put the populations and stability of the region at risk", Macron urged Netanyahu in a telephone call to adopt the same reasoning, the French presidency said in a statement.

Tensions have soared in the Middle East following the Israeli assassinations of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut last week.

Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran have vowed reprisals, heightening fears of a broader conflict in a region already on tenterhooks since Israel launched its bloodiest-ever war on Gaza in October.

The French presidency said it was imperative to prevent all-out war between Israel and Lebanon's powerful Hezbollah movement, which have been engaged in near-daily cross-border fire since the start of Israel's assault on Gaza.

"Faced with rising tensions on the border between Israel and Lebanon, every effort must be made... to avoid a regional conflagration," said the French presidency, stressing that "a war between Israel and Lebanon would have destructive consequences for the entire region".

Macron also reminded Netanyahu that "the absolute priority" for France remained "the immediate achievement of a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages... and the massive and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to the people there".

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.