Europe and Foreign Affairs Minister Catherine Colonna clarified, in an interview on Sunday, France’s position on the ongoing war in the Middle East and called on Europeans to reaffirm the need for political dialogue and a two-state solution.
Colonna returned to the message conveyed the day before at the Peace Summit in Egypt in an interview published in La Tribune, and took the opportunity to redefine the French position.
Colonna began by “condemning Hamas and its terrorist actions” while calling for a “political horizon” to avoid the region becoming engulfed in flames.
In her view, this can only be achieved through a “two-state solution”. A solution that makes it possible to “find ways of guaranteeing Israel’s right to security and the Palestinians’ right to a State”.
Colonna pointed out that Israel “obviously” has the right to defend itself against these terrorist acts but must “scrupulously” respect international law by ensuring the safety of civilians.
“The fight must target Hamas, not the Palestinians, who are also suffering from the situation”, she insisted.
On the fate of the people of Gaza, the minister insisted on France’s message from the start of the conflict, namely “unimpeded and lasting access to humanitarian aid”.
“France will be providing a further €10 million in aid, in addition to what it is already giving to the Palestinian population in the West Bank and Gaza Strip”, she added.
Last Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a special French flight with emergency humanitarian aid for the Palestinians and military equipment. According to Colonna, France is also working on “additional contributions” to the World Food Programme.
While two American hostages were released last week, the few French nationals probably being held in Gaza – one of whom is “certain” – can “count on France”, she said. She also guaranteed that everything would be done to enable the French to be evacuated from Gaza.
“This obviously presupposes a truce on military action and bombing”, the head of French diplomacy insisted.
While voices within the EU diverge on the position to adopt, she called on Europeans to “reaffirm the need for political dialogue and a two-state solution”, as defended by France.
(Hugo Struna | Euractiv.fr)
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