France's foreign minister voices hope for long pause in Mideast to start work on cease-fire

By Nur Asena Erturk

ANKARA (AA) – France's foreign minister stressed on Tuesday the need for a long pause in the Middle East to start working on a lasting cease-fire.

"A long-haul pause is needed to allow the delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid, the release of all hostages, and to work on a cease-fire," Catherine Colonna told reporters ahead of the NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels, following the two-day extension of the four-day humanitarian pause between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.

"Peace and security will be established only via a political solution," she added.

She reiterated that Israel has the right and duty to defend itself "while fully respecting international humanitarian law."

Qatar announced an agreement late Monday on extending a four-day humanitarian pause between Israel and Hamas in Gaza for an additional two days, under which further prisoner exchanges will be carried out.

Israel launched a massive military campaign in the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

It has since killed over 15,000 Palestinians, including 6,150 children and 4,000 women, according to health authorities in the enclave.

The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.

- War in Ukraine, Sweden's NATO bid

Colonna also said she regretted that Ukraine is preparing for a harsh winter as it tries to fight off the Russian offensive.

She stressed the need to continue supporting Kyiv in the long term.

The top diplomat also mentioned how Türkiye and Hungary have not yet ratified Sweden's NATO accession protocol.

To gain admission, which Sweden sought after Russia attacked nearby Ukraine, Stockholm has to have the approval of all current NATO members, including Türkiye, a NATO member for over 70 years.

Türkiye has been pushing Swedish authorities to take concrete steps to alleviate its security concerns, especially regarding support for terrorist groups such as the PKK and FETO, whose 2016 coup bid against Türkiye was defeated by loyal members of the state and public.