The French Foreign Ministry announced on Monday evening the safe evacuation of 42 citizens from the Gaza Strip, including French nationals, collaborators of the French Institute and members of their families.

“At the request of France, 42 people managed to leave the Gaza Strip today through the crossing point at Rafah” to Egypt, said a press release from the French Foreign Ministry. As a result, more than 200 people have left the besieged Palestinian enclave “at the request of France,” it said.

A few days ago it was announced the death of a French teacher who worked for 20 years with the French Institute in Gaza, who died because it was impossible to get the necessary treatment for the health problem he was facing.

The French Foreign Ministry emphasizes that the evacuation operation was the result of contacts made “at the highest level”, referring to the trip of Foreign Minister Stéphane Cezournet to Israel. “We are continuing to take action to allow the removal of more people” from the Gaza Strip, the press release said.

The French government finally reminds Israel that it must take “concrete measures to protect civilians” in the Gaza Strip and reiterates its “appeal for an end to the conflicts”.