The president of France Emmanuel Macron during a phone call he had today, Wednesday, with the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu expressed the absolute opposite of his country against of any Israeli military operation in the area of ​​Rafa.

As mentioned in a related announcement by Élysée, Emmanuel Macron, after reiterating France’s solidarity with the Israeli people after the October 7 terrorist attack, underlined that the release of all the hostages, including three Frenchmen, is an absolute priority for France.

The French president also underlined the urgency of finding a ceasefire agreement that would guarantee the protection of the civilian population and the massive provision of humanitarian aid in the region. From humanitarian point of view the situation is unbearable and Israel’s military operations must stop, the French president told Netanyahu, according to Elysee.

President Macron also stressed that Israel’s military operation in the Rafah area will results in new population movements something that is against international law and could lead to further escalation of the crisis.

Regarding the provision of humanitarian aid, the French side considers necessary the opening of Ashdod airport as well as a land corridor through Jordan. The French president also called on Israel to avoid adopting any measure that could lead to an uncontrolled escalation of the crisis in Jerusalem and Jordan, while also condemning Israel’s settlement policy and acts of violence by some settlers against Palestinian citizens. President Macron reiterated that the only peaceful solution that can exist in the region is the creation of two states and that France, as a member of the UN Security Council, will assume its responsibilities and contribute in this direction. The French president finally noted the need to avoid any escalation of the crisis in Lebanon and the Red Sea and advocated the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1701.