In a scathing critique, the French Foreign Minister, Stéphane Séjourné, has accused Israeli authorities of obstructing the delivery of vital humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. In an exclusive interview with “Le Monde” published on Saturday, Séjourné squarely placed the blame on Israel for the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, emphasizing that they cannot be justified.
Séjourné disclosed that France has been intensifying efforts to persuade Israeli authorities to open additional crossings and allow trucks loaded with humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. However, despite these efforts, the situation has not improved, and according to Séjourné, “the famine is worsening the horror,” as he emphasized the critical need for aid.
The French Foreign Minister’s remarks follow a tragic incident on Thursday, where Israeli gunfire and stampeding during the distribution of humanitarian aid resulted in the reported death of 115 people, according to Hamas. Séjourné called for an independent investigation into the incident during a radio interview on “France Inter” on Friday.
Expressing deep concern, Séjourné highlighted a “deadlock on Rafah” in the south of the Gaza Strip, where approximately one and a half million Palestinians are concentrated. Simultaneously, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans for a ground attack on Rafah, describing it as the movement’s “last stronghold.”
Séjourné warned against this potential move, stating that it could lead to “another humanitarian catastrophe,” emphasizing France’s commitment to avoiding such a scenario. He reiterated that France has been advocating for a permanent ceasefire for months.
Addressing the broader geopolitical context, Séjourné dismissed apparent differences between France and Germany regarding Ukraine. He clarified, “There is no French-German dispute; we agree on 80 percent of the issues,” highlighting the unity between President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Olaf Scholz despite public perceptions of divergence.
