France welcomes the conclusion of a ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages in Gaza. It welcomes the efforts of the mediators, in particular the United States, Qatar and Egypt, which made it possible to achieve this and calls on the parties to implement it without delay.
For more than a year, France has been calling for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, the unconditional release of hostages and the massive and unhindered entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave, in order to put an end to to the intolerable suffering of civilian populations and to work towards a political solution.
This agreement should allow the release of all the hostages still held in Gaza, including our two compatriots, Ofer Kalderon and Ohad Yahalomi. France fought tirelessly for their release, from the first days until these last hours. Our mobilization is total so that they can finally find their loved ones.
Today, more than a year after the October 7 massacres committed by Hamas in Israel, which cost the lives of nearly 1,200 people, including 48 of our compatriots, and after the fifteen months of war that followed, we caused the death of several tens of thousands of people, subjected the population of Gaza to extreme destitution, and destroyed almost all of the infrastructure essential to life, the ceasefire must absolutely be implemented and continue. perpetuate. We must respond to the absolute humanitarian emergency in Gaza and begin reconstruction work without delay.
France calls for all access to Gaza to be opened without delay and for the work of international organizations and humanitarian agencies to be facilitated by Israel, in accordance with international law and the orders of the International Court of Justice. Life must resume its rights in Gaza.
We must also prepare for the return of the Palestinian Authority, which is intended to administer this Palestinian territory.
France calls for this ceasefire to also be seized by the friends of Israel and Palestine as an opportunity to initiate an irreversible process for the effective implementation of the two-state solution, with guarantees security for Israelis and Palestinians alike, the only perspective to ensure a just and lasting peace.
France is committed to this, in conjunction with its partners, within the United Nations Security Council and in all international forums. In June 2025, she will co-chair with Saudi Arabia an international conference for the implementation of the two-state solution. France calls on Israelis and Palestinians to take the only path that will guarantee them a future of peace and security.
