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French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna called for an “immediate and durable” truce in the Gaza war during her visit to Israel on Sunday, December 17, with her counterpart Eli Cohen, who acknowledged that France could play a positive role in preventing a war with Lebanon.
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna pressed for an “immediate and durable” truce in the Gaza war on Sunday, adding that Paris is “deeply concerned” over the situation in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.
“Too many civilians are being killed,” Colonna said during remarks in Tel Aviv with her Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen as Israel presses on with its offensive after the October 7 attacks that has sent tensions spiraling across the region.
Israel has come under growing international pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza. Its offensive against Hamas caused over 18,800 casualties, predominantly women and children.
Cohen, meanwhile, said, “France could play a positive and significant role in preventing a war in Lebanon.” Israel has engaged in regular cross-border exchanges of fire with armed groups in southern Lebanon, notably the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah group. “Israel has no intention of starting another front on our northern border, but we will do whatever it takes to protect our citizens,” said Cohen.
On her part, Colonna urged all parties, including Israel, to “deescalate” on the volatile Israel-Lebanon border, where tensions have risen amid the Gaza war. “The risk of escalation remains, and if things were to spiral out of control, I don't think anyone would benefit, and I say this to Israel too,” she said during a visit to the Shura military base in central Israel. “This call for caution and de-escalation applies to everyone.”
Smoke rises from hills near the town of Marwahin in southern Lebanon, seen from northern Israel's border on December 16, 2023. (Jalaa Marey, AFP)
Colonna mentioned that France and its allies were exploring possible “solutions” to recent attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, leading major shipping firms to suspend passage through the vital waterway. Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed to target vessels near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb strait to pressure Israel over the war in Gaza. “These attacks cannot go unanswered, and we are studying several solutions,” including a “defensive role to prevent this from happening again,” Colonna said.
[readmore url="https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/world/208597"]
Colonna also stressed that the victims of Hamas' attacks must not be forgotten, including those subjected to sexual violence. “Needless to say, France believes the word of these female victims,” she said, about allegations of widespread sexual assaults during the Hamas attacks. “France believes those who had to witness these rapes and mutilations, these desecrations,” she added.
On Saturday, Paris condemned an Israeli strike in Gaza that killed a French foreign ministry employee, demanding that “light be shed” on the circumstances.
Colonna was also due to meet the families of French hostages still held in Gaza, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. The truce she proposed should lead to a lasting ceasefire with the aim of releasing all hostages and delivering aid to Gaza, it said.
The French top diplomat will also meet her Palestinian counterpart, Riyad al-Maliki, in the occupied West Bank.
Shortly before her arrival in Israel, Colonna condemned increasing attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians in the West Bank. She said that “since October 7, unfortunately, some settlers, driven by their ideological blindness, have committed crimes” against Palestinians, adding that “these settlers must be punished.”
Miroslava Salazar, with AFP
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna pressed for an “immediate and durable” truce in the Gaza war on Sunday, adding that Paris is “deeply concerned” over the situation in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.
“Too many civilians are being killed,” Colonna said during remarks in Tel Aviv with her Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen as Israel presses on with its offensive after the October 7 attacks that has sent tensions spiraling across the region.
Israel has come under growing international pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza. Its offensive against Hamas caused over 18,800 casualties, predominantly women and children.
Cohen, meanwhile, said, “France could play a positive and significant role in preventing a war in Lebanon.” Israel has engaged in regular cross-border exchanges of fire with armed groups in southern Lebanon, notably the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah group. “Israel has no intention of starting another front on our northern border, but we will do whatever it takes to protect our citizens,” said Cohen.
On her part, Colonna urged all parties, including Israel, to “deescalate” on the volatile Israel-Lebanon border, where tensions have risen amid the Gaza war. “The risk of escalation remains, and if things were to spiral out of control, I don't think anyone would benefit, and I say this to Israel too,” she said during a visit to the Shura military base in central Israel. “This call for caution and de-escalation applies to everyone.”
Smoke rises from hills near the town of Marwahin in southern Lebanon, seen from northern Israel's border on December 16, 2023. (Jalaa Marey, AFP)Colonna mentioned that France and its allies were exploring possible “solutions” to recent attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, leading major shipping firms to suspend passage through the vital waterway. Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed to target vessels near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb strait to pressure Israel over the war in Gaza. “These attacks cannot go unanswered, and we are studying several solutions,” including a “defensive role to prevent this from happening again,” Colonna said.
[readmore url="https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/world/208597"]
Colonna also stressed that the victims of Hamas' attacks must not be forgotten, including those subjected to sexual violence. “Needless to say, France believes the word of these female victims,” she said, about allegations of widespread sexual assaults during the Hamas attacks. “France believes those who had to witness these rapes and mutilations, these desecrations,” she added.
On Saturday, Paris condemned an Israeli strike in Gaza that killed a French foreign ministry employee, demanding that “light be shed” on the circumstances.
Colonna was also due to meet the families of French hostages still held in Gaza, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. The truce she proposed should lead to a lasting ceasefire with the aim of releasing all hostages and delivering aid to Gaza, it said.
The French top diplomat will also meet her Palestinian counterpart, Riyad al-Maliki, in the occupied West Bank.
Shortly before her arrival in Israel, Colonna condemned increasing attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians in the West Bank. She said that “since October 7, unfortunately, some settlers, driven by their ideological blindness, have committed crimes” against Palestinians, adding that “these settlers must be punished.”
Miroslava Salazar, with AFP
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