France Condemns the Killing of Journalists in Gaza: The Future of the Gaza Strip Must Fall Within a Future Palestinian State

SadaNews - The spokesperson for the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs said today, Tuesday, that the future of the Gaza Strip must fall within a future Palestinian state governed by the Palestinian Authority. He added: France is mobilizing its efforts to implement the two-state solution, which represents the only solution that can ensure peace and lasting security for Israelis and Palestinians, and this war must be stopped immediately with a permanent ceasefire.

These statements came after the Israeli government recently announced its intention to militarily occupy northern Gaza. France stated that if this occurs, it could represent a disaster and a fleeing from the problem, for whose first victims would again be both Israeli hostages and Gaza civilians.

The spokesperson added that to avoid such a situation, the countries that signed the New York Declaration, during the United Nations conference held at the end of July, supported the deployment of a temporary international mission to establish stability, aimed at ensuring the safety of Israelis and Palestinians and contributing to implementing the two-state solution.

France is working, based on the initiative of the French President, in cooperation with its partners and the United Nations, to facilitate the establishment of this mission and change the dynamics in the Gaza Strip. France proposes that this mission take the form of an international coalition, the mandate of which would be defined by the United Nations Security Council, led by regional partners. It would represent a reliable path to end the ongoing war and establish lasting peace in the region.

France also condemned the Israeli strike that resulted in the death of a team of Al Jazeera journalists in the Gaza Strip while carrying out their journalistic duties.

France expressed its deep concern over the heavy toll paid by journalists in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, noting that Israeli strikes have killed more than 200 journalists.

France reiterated its commitment to press freedom, freedom of expression, and the protection of journalists and media professionals. It stated: Journalists must never be targeted, affirming that international humanitarian law protects journalists as it does all civilians.

France called on the Israeli authorities to ensure the safe and unhindered entry of international journalists to the Gaza Strip, stating: They must be able to work freely to document what is happening on the ground.