French President Emmanuel Macron. Photo: Collected
As a worsening humanitarian crisis engulfs the Palestinian territory, French President Emmanuel Macron demanded a "lasting ceasefire" in Gaza during a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday (28 December), according to his office.
The French presidency stated in a statement that "France will work in the coming days in cooperation with Jordan to carry out humanitarian operations in Gaza."
Macron expressed his "deepest concern" to Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu about civilian deaths and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Macron has been an ally of Netanyahu since the beginning of the war, which was sparked by the extraordinary Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.
Additionally, he emphasized the significance of taking action to stop Israeli settlers' violence against Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank and to stop the construction of new planned settlements.
Netanyahu’s office said during the call the prime minister thanked Macron for “France’s involvement in defending freedom of navigation and its willingness to help restore security along Israel’s border with Lebanon.”
The conflict erupted when Hamas gunmen attacked southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of about 1,140 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.
Palestinian militants also took around 250 hostages, 129 of whom remain in captivity, Israel says.
Israel vowed to destroy Hamas and retaliated with relentless bombardment and a ground invasion in Gaza that has killed at least 21,110 people, mainly women and children, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Messenger/Sun Yath
