On a visit to Israel, France’s new Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné called for a ceasefire: “The ongoing tragedy in Gaza must end. We demand respect for international humanitarian law by all, an immediate and lasting ceasefire and a massive influx of humanitarian aid.,’’ he said.
He reiterated France’s commitment to ‘’a two-state political solution, side by side and in peace.’’ and said that Israeli “settler violence” in the West Bank must “stop.’’
“There can be no forced displacement of Palestinians under any circumstances, either out of Gaza or out of the West Bank”, he added .
Stéphane Séjourné is on a Middle East tour which also includes visits to Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority.
He met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjmin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, who said: “I want to welcome you and thank you for the stalwart support, consistent support that France took against the savagery from day one, your position on the ICJ and this absurd accusation of genocide against Israel, and many other things, and also the effort to help with humanitarian medical assistance, and – of course – our cooperation on the question of Lebanon. We have a lot to talk about.
On X, the French minister wrote: ‘’France is Israel’s friend. I said it again to @IsraeliPM during our meeting. The attacks of October 7 were also against French people. We will be paying tribute to them on Wednesday.”
French President Emmanuel Macron will on Wednesday host a major ceremony at the Invalides memorial complex in Paris in memory of the 42 French citizens killed in the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas and three others still missing, believed to be held hostage in the Gaza strip.