Resumption of Israeli strikes 'must shock us,' says French foreign minister

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - The French foreign minister on Tuesday expressed concern over the continued Israeli attacks, saying the resumption of strikes "must shock us."

"I call on Israel to lift all restrictions so that humanitarian aid can enter the Gaza Strip," Jean-Noel Barrot said during an open Security Council debate on "The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question."

Barrot expressed concern about Israel's continued attacks on Gaza, saying their first priority is to end hostilities and alleviate civilian suffering.

"The resumption of Israeli strikes must shock us; they are a dramatic step back," he said, noting that Israeli bombings have killed over 1,300 people since the end of March, including many civilians, women, and children.

He reiterated that "only a two-state solution can guarantee long-term peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians," but warned that this aspiration is currently undermined by increased settlement activity in the occupied West Bank.

The Israeli army renewed its assault on Gaza on March 18, shattering a Jan. 19 ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with the resistance group Hamas.

Over 52,300 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed in Gaza in a brutal Israeli onslaught since October 2023.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.