French Foreign Minister Calls for 'Immediate and Sustainable' Ceasefire in Gaza

Catherine Colonna, the French Foreign Minister, called for an 'immediate and sustainable' ceasefire in Gaza on Sunday, stating that 'a very large number of civilians are being killed in Palestinian territories.' According to Agence France-Presse, Colonna emphasized during a meeting with her Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen in Tel Aviv that the victims of Hamas attacks, including those subjected to sexual violence, should not be forgotten. The senior French diplomat stated that her country trusts the voices of women who are victims of Hamas's sexual violence and those who were forced to witness these assaults and mutilations. Catherine Colonna expressed concern about the escalation of conflicts in the region and called for de-escalation at the Israel-Lebanon border. She noted that if the situation spirals out of control, none of the parties, including Israel, would benefit from it. During this meeting, the Israeli Foreign Minister also stated that his country does not intend to open a new front in the north. However, he warned that the security of Israelis near the border with Lebanon must be guaranteed, adding that this would be achieved through the evacuation of Hezbollah forces to the north of the Litani River. According to Eli Cohen, achieving this could happen either through diplomacy or force, and France could play a 'positive and significant role' in preventing the onset of a full-scale war. In another part of her remarks, Colonna stated that France and its allies are considering responses to attacks on ships passing through the Red Sea. The Houthis, backed by the Islamic Republic of Iran, have recently attacked passing vessels in the Red Sea to pressure Israel, leading some shipping companies to suspend their vessels' passage through the region. Catherine Colonna said these attacks should not go unanswered and that France and its allies are examining several solutions, including a 'defensive role to prevent the recurrence' of such attacks. The senior French diplomat also condemned deadly violence against Palestinians residing in the West Bank. According to her, some settlers have committed crimes against Palestinians due to 'ideological blindness' and must be punished. Catherine Colonna is set to meet with the families of French hostages kidnapped by Hamas and also with Riyad al-Maliki, the Foreign Minister of the Palestinian Authority. The killing of a French Foreign Ministry employee in Gaza during an Israeli attack has caused tensions, and Paris has demanded clarification from Israel regarding this matter. Since the terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7, which left about 1,200 dead, Israel has resisted increasing global pressure against its attacks aimed at destroying Hamas, which, according to Palestinian sources, has claimed the lives of 19,000 Palestinians in Gaza. Hamas, which is supported by the Islamic Republic, is recognized as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States. The United States reported the downing of 14 Houthi attack drones. The Israeli Prime Minister confirmed 'new negotiations' for the release of hostages held by Hamas. Three Israeli hostages killed were holding a white flag. The head of Mossad and the Prime Minister of Qatar negotiated about the release of hostages in Gaza. Senior Pentagon officials are on their way to Israel; the U.S. is calling for more caution in the Gaza war. The Pentagon ordered the American aircraft carrier to remain in the eastern Mediterranean near Israel. Two Al Jazeera television reporters were killed and injured in Gaza; the White House expressed condolences. The 'Karem Shalom' crossing has been reopened for humanitarian aid to Gaza; the U.S. welcomed this. The Israeli army found the bodies of three hostages in Gaza. Sullivan: The White House is engaged in 'intensive negotiations' with Israel regarding the next phase of the war. Families of Israeli hostages are calling for the UN Secretary-General to work for their release. An American official stated: Yahya Sinwar's days are numbered. Israel: The test of pumping seawater into the tunnels was successful; Hamas: Our tunnels are waterproof. The creation of a multinational force and the construction of an underground fence; a possible plan by Israeli security agencies for managing Gaza after the war.