Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday called for an end to fighting in Gaza, saying France lent its “full support” to efforts to mediate the war between Israel and Hamas.
“The war in Gaza must stop,” Macron wrote on X. “It should be clear to everyone.”
The end of hostilities was “important for the people of Gaza, the hostages and the stability of the region, which is under threat today.”
On Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Israel had agreed to resume Gaza ceasefire talks on August 15 at the request of US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators.
U.S., Qatari and Egyptian mediators have tried to secure a second ceasefire in the 10-month-old war that began with an unprecedented attack by Hamas on October 7 in Israel.
The three countries invited the warring parties to resume talks in Doha or Cairo “to close all remaining gaps and begin implementation of the agreement without further delay.”
Macron also held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Thursday and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on Friday, his office said.
The three leaders called on all parties “to end, at all costs, the logic of revenge that risks setting the region on fire to the detriment of all,” a statement from the Elysee Palace said.
The statement called for a “ceasefire in the Gaza Strip without further delay to free all hostages, protect the people of Gaza and deliver massive humanitarian aid.”
Macron also “welcomed the diplomatic efforts led by Egypt and Qatar together with the United States,” his office added.
Macron also discussed the crisis with British Prime Minister Keir Starr, and the two leaders “expressed their deep concern at the growing tensions in the region,” the Elysee Palace said.
Macron and Starr backed the statement calling for the United States, Egypt and Qatar to quickly resume talks on a ceasefire and the release of hostages, Macron's office added.
