He intends to carry the voice of France. The head of French diplomacy Jean-Noël Barrot will travel to Israel and the Palestinian territories this Wednesday to demand a ceasefire in Gaza and “respect for international humanitarian law”, he announced on Tuesday on France 2.
“France has a vocation to carry messages and that is why I will go tomorrow evening to Israel and the Palestinian territories to meet the authorities, humanitarian actors, to carry the voice of France in this region where the war has has already lasted far too long,” declared Jean-Noël Barrot.
In addition to the ceasefire, the head of French diplomacy wants to insist on “respect for international law”. “Violations of international humanitarian law are unacceptable and must stop,” he stressed, while Israel is accused of numerous violations of humanitarian law in its war against Hamas in Gaza. Israel also banned the activities of UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, which it accuses of complicity with Hamas, causing an international outcry.
This visit comes as relations between Israel and Paris have become significantly strained in recent weeks, after statements by President Emmanuel Macron calling for an end to sales of weapons used in Gaza or accusing Israel of “sowing barbarity”. “The dialogue has never been broken,” insisted Jean-Noël Barrot. He had already visited Israel on the occasion of the first anniversary of October 7.
