French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said Sunday she was in Tel Aviv to stress the importance of a “new humanitarian truce,” while also expressing France’s solidarity with Israel after the October 7 attacks.
“We need to return to a durable truce — a truce that will enable us to work toward a ceasefire now, to move toward a humanitarian ceasefire,” Colonna told reporters during a joint briefing with her Israeli counterpart, Eli Cohen.
“What is happening in Gaza is of the utmost concern to France. Too many civilians are being killed … and I repeat that the first truce that took place enabled the release of hostages, the delivery and distribution of more humanitarian aid, and the evacuation of the wounded.”
The Israeli foreign minister pushed back, saying “the only reason Hamas has agreed to release the hostages is because of the military pressure,” and adding, “This is the reason why the irresponsible call for a ceasefire is a mistake.”
“A call for a ceasefire now is a gift for Hamas, it will not help the release of the hostages,” Cohen said.
Colonna went on to express solidarity with the Israeli people following the violence committed on October 7, including reports of sexual violence.
“Needless to say, France believes the word of these women victims, believes those who had to witness these acts, these rapes and mutilations, these desecrations. Of course, the word of Israeli women is no less valuable than that of any other victim,” she added.
On broader regional tensions: The officials also addressed the prospect of an escalation at the Israel-Lebanon border, as well as attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Houthis.
Colonna said no one would benefit from an escalation along the Israel-Lebanon border, where clashes have increased between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah paramilitary group, which wields significant power in southern Lebanon.
“We’re reiterating our messages to all sides, because there is still a risk of things spiraling. And if things were to spiral, if there was a conflagration, I don’t think anyone would benefit. I’m also saying this to Israel, and we’ll say it as clearly as we’ve already done on the Lebanese side,” she said.
During the briefing earlier, Cohen told reporters that he thinks France “could play a positive and significant role to prevent a war in Lebanon.”
“Israel has no intention to start another front on our northern border, but we will do what whatever it takes to protect our citizens,” he said.
The only way to ensure the security of citizens in northern Israel is by forcing Hezbollah to move north to the Litani River, he said. “There are two ways to do that: either by diplomacy or by force,” Cohen continued.
During the briefing, Colonna also talked about the attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Houthis, saying they “cannot go unanswered.”
Asked by a journalist if such “options” include military options, Colonna said only: “We’re studying several options with our partners.”