French president advocates humanitarian truce in Israel-Palestine conflict

By Nur Asena Erturk

ANKARA (AA) – France's president on Friday highlighted the importance of a humanitarian truce in the Israel-Palestine conflict, saying it "would be useful to protect the populations" on the field.

"We are in the situation of a war that will last. The fight against Hamas would not be quick," Emmanuel Macron said in a news conference at the end of the EU Council Summit in Brussels.

He underscored France's commitment to humanitarian access and the protection of civilians in the conflict, advocating for the relaunch of the political process.

"We think that a humanitarian truce would be useful to protect the populations who are on the field, who suffered from the bombardment," said Macron, expressing sorrow for the death of humanitarian workers unrelated to the ongoing conflict.

The president said he would propose a meeting with France's partners in the coming weeks to develop an initiative to combat terrorism in the region.

Macron also pledged France's ongoing efforts to secure the release of individuals held hostage by the Palestinian group Hamas.

The conflict in Gaza began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood – a multi-pronged surprise attack on Oct. 7 that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air.

Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched a relentless bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

Over 8,700 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 7,326 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.

Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been running out of food, water, medicine, and fuel, and aid convoys allowed into Gaza have carried only a fraction of what is needed.