Metz and Lille, two cities in France, have declared their readiness to receive refugees fleeing the war-torn Gaza Strip, where conflict between Israel and Hamas has raged for nearly eight months.
François Grosdidier, the Mayor of Metz in northeastern France, stated that his city is prepared to welcome families escaping the war in Gaza.
He emphasized that the conflict has caused a massive humanitarian crisis, forcing people to leave their homes in a region that has become a battlefield with no safe haven.
Metz has informed the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of its willingness to host families fleeing the conflict.
The city, which has a population of around 120,000, has a history of aiding refugees, having previously accommodated Syrian and Ukrainian refugees.
This offer from Metz was made in response to a request from the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, according to the municipality’s statement to AFP.
Similarly, Lille, a city in northern France, has expressed its readiness to welcome refugees. In recent years, Lille has hosted refugees from Afghanistan and Ukraine.
The municipality confirmed to AFP that it has received approval to host two Palestinian artists and is prepared to welcome more refugees.
However, Lille, which has a population of about 230,000, did not specify the source of this approval.
The ongoing war in Gaza has caused extensive destruction and displacement, affecting the majority of its 2.4 million residents and leading to a severe humanitarian disaster.
