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France warns Netanyahu against military offensive in Gaza

By Selin Atay
Apr 23, 2024 10:22 AM

Macron cautions Netanyahu against escalating tensions with a military offensive in Gaza

French President Emmanuel Macron cautioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday against any military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, warning that it would worsen an already deteriorating situation.

Macron’s call with Netanyahu came in the aftermath of Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel on April 13.

According to a statement from the Elysee Palace, Macron expressed solidarity with Tel Aviv during the call and defined the retaliatory attack as unacceptable.

He emphasized all parties should take measures to de-escalate tensions in the region.

France urges Israel on military operation in Rafah

Smoke rises above buildings during an Israeli strike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on April 21, 2024, amid the ongoing fighting between Israel and the Hamas terror movement. (Mohammed Abed/AFP)
Smoke rises above buildings during an Israeli strike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on April 21, 2024. (AFP Photo)

Macron highlighted the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, opposing Israel’s planned military offensive in Rafah. 

“Any military offensive in Rafah would exacerbate the already catastrophic situation in Gaza and escalate tensions,” Macron said during the call.

The French presidency added that Macron had also reiterated to Netanyahu that France wanted an immediate and lasting cease-fire in Gaza and said Paris was working to ease tensions arising from clashes on the border between Israel and Lebanon.

Macron and Sisi agree on de-escalation in the region

France keen to boost cooperation with Egypt as key partner in ME and Africa: Macron to Sisi at Elysée - Foreign Affairs - Egypt - Ahram Online
France’s President Emmanuel Macron (R) greets Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for a meeting at the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris on June 22, 2023. (AFP Photo)
 
French President Emmanuel Macron held phone calls on Monday with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to discuss ways of avoiding an escalation in the Middle East crisis. 
 
Egyptian presidential spokesperson Ahmed Fahmy said Macron had also discussed the Middle East crisis with the Egyptian leader and that Macron and Sisi had agreed to avoid further regional escalation.

Israel’s ongoing Gaza onslaught30) Between 30 and 40% of those wounded in airstrikes on Gaza are children, surgeon tells CNN

An injured Palestinian child is pictured in the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes at al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza on Oct. 9 (AA Photo)

Israel has said it is preparing an offensive against the city of Rafah, where some 1.2 million Palestinians are taking shelter after fleeing the conflict in other parts of the enclave.

The recent reported Israeli attack on the Iranian province of Isfahan, following Iran’s direct attack on Israel, has only clouded hopes of a peace breakthrough in Gaza.

Flouting an International Court of Justice provisional ruling, Israel continues its onslaught on the Gaza Strip where over 34,000 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and nearly 77,000 injured since Oct. 7, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by Hamas which killed 1,139 people with dozens of captives held in Gaza.

The Israeli war on Gaza has pushed 85% of the territory’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine. According to the U.N., 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Source: Newsroom

Last Updated:  May 31, 2024 8:28 PM