French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated on Saturday that France, along with the broader European community, is prepared to support efforts to ensure the safe distribution of food supplies within Gaza.
His comments come at a time of growing outrage over the tragic rise in civilian deaths at food distribution points backed by Israel in Gaza.
He explained that creating a more coordinated system would not only ease the desperate humanitarian situation but also address Israel’s concerns that aid supplies could be falling into the hands of armed groups like Hamas.
Expressing deep sorrow over the unfolding crisis, Barrot said it was heartbreaking that nearly 500 people had lost their lives in recent weeks simply while trying to get food to survive. “It is unbearable to think that so many are dying just to find something to eat,” he added, calling for urgent action to restore humanity and dignity to relief efforts.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyanu on Friday denounced as a “blood libel” a report in left-leaning daily Haaretz alleging that military commanders had ordered soldiers to fire at Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid in Gaza.
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On Friday, the humanitarian group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) condemned the food distribution initiative in Gaza, backed by Israel and the United States, calling it “slaughter masquerading as humanitarian aid.”
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced his alarm over the dire conditions in the territory, emphasising that people driven by hunger should not be met with what he described as a “death sentence.”
According to Gaza’s health ministry, which is overseen by Hamas, more than 500 people have lost their lives near aid distribution sites since late May, as desperate civilians continue to risk everything just to secure basic food supplies.