By Ahmet Gencturk
ATHENS (AA) – France on Sunday reiterated its support for Palestinians’ “legitimate aspiration to have a state.”
Citing presidential sources, French broadcaster BFMTV announced that President Emmanuel Macron held a phone call with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to discuss the latest developments related to the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.
He stressed the need for the protection of civilians in Gaza and underscored the importance of the "resumption of the peace process, intending to respond to the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians to have a state, living in peace and security alongside Israel.”
On the rapidly worsening health crisis in Gaza, Macron said “France wishes to rapidly accelerate humanitarian aid, given the emergency Gazans are in.”
He noted that France will send an additional 10 tons of humanitarian aid to Egypt, where aid is collected before being sent to Gaza.
He also said France would welcome sick or wounded children from Gaza to its hospitals.
The death toll in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7 has reached 13,000, including over 5,500 children and 3,500 women, the media office in the besieged enclave said on Sunday.
The number of injuries has exceeded 30,000, with more than 75% of them being children and women, it said in a statement.
The administration said the number of missing persons crossed 6,000, with most of them suspected of lying under the rubble of fallen buildings.
Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques and churches, have either been damaged or destroyed in Israel’s relentless strikes on the besieged enclave.
An Israeli blockade has also cut Gaza off from fuel, electricity and water supplies and reduced aid deliveries to a trickle.
Israel has rejected growing calls for a cease-fire until the release of hostages held by Hamas.