France Offers Help for Safer Gaza Aid Distribution as Trump Urges for Ceasefire
France has offered help to ensure the safety of aid distribution in Gaza amid growing international criticism over the civilian death toll near the US and Israeli-backed aid centers.
Meanwhile, prospects for reaching a ceasefire have improved in recent days as the US President, Donald Trump, urged Hamas and Israel to reach a ceasefire deal to end the devastating war in Gaza. French Offer
The French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, expressed France's readiness to help in the aid distribution process in Gaza to ensure the safety of civilians, reported AFP. 'France stands ready, Europe as well, to contribute to the safety of food distribution' in the Gaza Strip, he said on Saturday.
The civilian death toll near aid distribution sites in Gaza has increased over the past weeks, sparking global outrage. In the light of this, Barrot voiced Paris' anger over the situation in Gaza and the '500 people who have lost their life in food distribution' in the enclave in recent weeks.
He also said that France's initiative would address Israel's concerns that groups like Hamas were stealing and taking control of aid. Targeting Civilians in Gaza
In recent weeks, the Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire at Gazans heading to aid distribution sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), killing hundreds of Palestinians. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, the Israeli forces have killed over 500 Palestinians and injured more than 4,000 seeking food over the past month.
The Israeli military claimed it had fired shots at people who did not adhere to designated access routes. However, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that military commanders had ordered soldiers to fire at Palestinians approaching aid distribution sites in Gaza.
In response, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, lashed out at Haaretz report, calling it 'blood libel,' saying that 'these are malicious falsehoods designed to defame the (Israeli military).' Global Outcry
The rising civilian deaths in Gaza have put the GHF operations under heavy criticism from the UN and other humanitarian groups, who refused to cooperate with it. On Friday, the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) aid group denounced the GHF mechanism in Gaza, saying it 'must be dismantled.'
'This system is a slaughter masquerading as humanitarian aid, and it must be immediately dismantled. Aid must not be controlled by a warring party to further its military objectives. Israeli authorities and their allies must lift the siege on food, fuel, medical, and humanitarian supplies and to revert to the pre-existing principled humanitarian system that was coordinated by the United Nations,' it said.
Similarly, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, described the situation in Gaza as the most severe since the outbreak of the war. 'The search for food must never be a death sentence,' he said on Friday. He reiterated his call for three key demands to end the crisis: an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and full, unimpeded humanitarian access.
Furthermore, a group of 15 international human rights organizations called on the GHF and affiliated contractors to halt their operations in Gaza or face legal consequences. Gaza Ceasefire Push
The US President, Donald Trump, has urged for a ceasefire in Gaza. On Sunday, he posted on Truth Social: 'MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!'
Trump also raised hopes of an imminent ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel over the past week. On Friday, he said that the agreement could be reached within the next week. 'We're working on Gaza and trying to get it taken care of,' he told reporters, according to the Associated Press (AP).
In this context, an informed official told the AP that Israel's Minister for Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, will travel to Washington next week to discuss Gaza ceasefire, Iran and other issues.
Moreover, Trump expressed optimism regarding ceasefire talks on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters ahead of the NATO Summit in The Hague, Trump said: 'I think great progress is being made on Gaza,' adding that his Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, told him that 'Gaza is very close.'
Hamas and Israel reached a ceasefire agreement in January 2025, during which Hamas released 25 Israeli hostages and 8 bodies in exchange for about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. However, negotiations over the next phases of the agreement stalled and Israel resumed its war on Gaza on March 18, 2025.
According to Gaza's Health Ministry, the war has claimed the lives of more than 56,000 Palestinians and injured over 133,000. Meanwhile, the death toll since Israel resumed fighting in March has exceeded 6,000 Palestinians.
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