Israel- Hamas war: France, Jordan Urge Israel To Lift “Land-Based Restrictions” On Gaza Aids

In a joint statement, France and Jordan have called on Israel to lift land-based restrictions on aid to Gaza, emphasizing ...

In a joint statement, France and Jordan have called on Israel to lift land-based restrictions on aid to Gaza, emphasizing the urgent need for humanitarian relief.

French President Emmanuel Macron and King Abdullah II of Jordan on Monday urged Israel to remove all land-based restrictions on delivering aid to Gaza. UN agencies have repeatedly warned of severe shortages of vital supplies in Gaza, made worse by land access restrictions and the closure of the key Rafah crossing with Egypt since Israeli forces took control of the Palestinian side in early May.

Macron and King Abdullah II also stressed the need for an “immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza” and called for the release of all hostages, including two French nationals.

The leaders also “expressed their deep concern about the situation in the West Bank and strongly condemned the violence committed by settlers. They agreed to continue working together on a “lasting and credible solution” to the war, based on the “two-state solution.” They also welcomed the reforms made by the Palestinian government and encouraged them to continue.

Add India.com as a Preferred Source

Regarding the rising tensions on the Israeli-Lebanese border, Macron and Abdullah II warned that a conflict there would be disastrous for the region. They called on all parties to act with “responsibility and restraint.”

Hamas’s unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7 resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count based on Israeli official figures.

Hamas operatives also took hostages, with 116 still in Gaza, although the Israeli army says 42 of them are dead. Israel’s retaliatory strikes have killed at least 37,626 people, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza.