France “stands ready, Europe as well, to contribute to the safety of food distribution” in the Palestinian territory of Gaza, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced on Saturday. His comments came amidst growing international criticism concerning the escalating civilian death toll at Israeli-backed food distribution centers in the besieged enclave.
Barrot added that such an initiative would also address Israeli concerns that armed groups, such as Hamas, were acquiring humanitarian aid.
The French Foreign Minister expressed deep anger over “the 500 people who have lost their life in food distribution” in Gaza in recent weeks.
His remarks follow a strong denial by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, who denounced as a “blood libel” a report in the left-leaning daily Haaretz. The report had alleged that Israeli military commanders had ordered soldiers to fire at Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid in Gaza.
International aid organizations have also voiced their alarm. Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) on Friday condemned the Israel- and US-backed food distribution effort in Gaza as “slaughter masquerading as humanitarian aid.” Similarly, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated on Friday that hungry people in Gaza seeking food must not face a “death sentence.”
The health ministry in Gaza, a territory controlled by Hamas, reports that since late May, more than 500 people have been killed near aid centers while attempting to obtain scarce supplies.
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