French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday called for a United Nations “stabilization” mission to protect the civilian population in Gaza and disarm Hamas, as international outrage grows around Israel’s planned military takeover of Gaza City.
Israel’s announced expansion of the conflict constitutes “a disaster of unprecedented gravity and a headlong rush into permanent war. The Israeli hostages and the people of Gaza will continue to be the first victims of this strategy,” Macron said in a statement.
The French leader’s appeal echoes a document signed by 17 countries, the European Union and the Arab League in July that called for such a mission, if requested by the Palestinian Authority.
The temporary force, for which some signatories were ready to provide troops, would protect the civilian population, monitor any future peace agreement and oversee the transfer of security responsibilities to the PA in Gaza.
“This war must end now with a permanent ceasefire,” the French president said, calling on the UN Security Council, of which France is a permanent member, to establish such a peacekeeping force.
“It is the only credible way to begin to emerge from the permanent war and rebuild peace and security for all,” Macron said.
Other European leaders call for peace: Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said Monday that the war in Gaza “must stop,” adding that “journalists must be allowed to do their work safely and without interference” and calling for a ceasefire.
Tanja Fajon, Slovenia’s foreign minister, spoke out about the killings of several Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza Monday. The killings are “unacceptable and shameful,” she said on social media, adding that “attacking journalists is attacking freedom of the press. Attacking the truth.”
