France demands clarification from Israel after its staffer killed in airstrike on Gaza

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) - France on Sunday evening demanded clarification from Israel over the killing of one of its Foreign Ministry staffers in an airstrike at a residential building in Rafah, southern Gaza.

In a joint press conference with her Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen in Tel Aviv, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said: “We have asked for a complete spotlight on the circumstances that could explain the targeting of this house, following the explosion that resulted in the death of this staffer.”

“Minister Cohen promised to provide me with information, and I count on him to quickly return to us with the precise details and justifications that could have led to targeting this house, which we do not understand and can say that we do not comprehend,” Colonna added.

On Saturday, the French Foreign Ministry condemned the death of one of its staffers due to injuries sustained in an Israeli airstrike on the city of Rafah in southern Gaza.

The ministry stated that “some staffers sought refuge in the home of a colleague working in the French Consulate, and the house was subjected to Israeli shelling on Dec. 13.”

“France condemns the shelling of the residential building, which resulted in the fall of about 10 other civilian victims,” the ministry said, and called on Israeli authorities to “clarify the circumstances of this shelling as soon as possible.”

Despite the death of the French staffer, Colonna reiterated her country's support for “Israel's right to self-defense” and stated in the same press conference: “I am here to affirm France's solidarity with the Israeli people.”

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala