International pressure is intensifying on Israel. While Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is expected in Washington on Sunday, at a time when the United States is urging Israel to reach a ceasefire in exchange for the release of hostages, Emmanuel Macron s is spoken by telephone with Benyamin Netanyahu. He warned the Israeli Prime Minister that any “forced population transfer” would constitute a “war crime”.
The President of the Republic “reaffirmed his solidarity with the Israeli people following the terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023 and France’s attachment to the security of Israel”. He recalled that “the release of all the hostages remains an absolute priority for France” and notably mentioned the three French hostages still being held, according to a press release sent by the Elysée.
The President of the Republic also reiterated his call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza and expressed “his deepest concern regarding the operations carried out since Monday by the Israeli army in the Al-Shifa hospital complex” . Emmanuel Macron reiterated his “firm opposition to an Israeli offensive on Rafah”, recalling “that the forced transfer of populations constituted a war crime within the meaning of international law and that the future of Gaza could only be played out within the framework of “a future Palestinian state and under the responsibility of the Palestinian Authority”.
The two leaders then discussed the unacceptable toll and humanitarian situation in Gaza and the absolute urgency of ensuring a massive entry of humanitarian aid in the face of the imminent risk of famine and the deprivation of the most essential goods imposed to the Gazan population. In accordance with the request of the International Court of Justice to Israel, the President of the Republic insisted that “Israel open without delay and unconditionally all existing land crossing points towards the Gaza Strip – in particular the crossing point of Karni, with a direct land route from Jordan, as well as the port of Ashdod. The number of incoming trucks had to be transparently communicated in coordination with the United Nations. France was mobilized to provide more aid and was willing to work towards increased coordination.”
The war broke out on October 7 when Hamas commandos infiltrated from the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented attack in southern Israel which left at least 1,160 dead, mainly civilians, according to an AFP count. established from official Israeli data.
According to Israel, around 250 people have been kidnapped and 130 of them are still hostages in Gaza, of whom 33 are believed to have died.
In retaliation, Israel vowed to destroy Hamas, in power in Gaza since 2007 and which it considers a terrorist organization along with the United States and the European Union. Its army launched an offensive that has so far left 32,226 people dead in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to Hamas’ health ministry.