logo
France foreign minister says strike on Gaza church 'unacceptable' - War on Gaza

France foreign minister says strike on Gaza church 'unacceptable' - War on Gaza

Al-Ahram Weekly17-07-2025
France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot Thursday slammed as "unacceptable" an Israeli strike on Gaza's only Catholic church that the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem confirmed killed two people.
"Unacceptable attack in Gaza against the Church of the Holy Family, historically under the protection of France," he said, alluding to a 16th-centrury accord for France to protect Catholic Christians in the Holy Land.
"The church has been sheltering both Christians and Muslims, including some children with disabilities," Fadel Naem, the acting director of Al-Ahli Hospital, which received the wounded, told AP.
At least two people were in critical condition, and others injured included one child with disabilities, two women, and an elderly person, Naem added.
Since the start of Israel's war on Gaza in October 2023, its military has repeatedly targeted civilian infrastructure, including places of worship such as historic mosques and churches that are central to Palestine's cultural and religious heritage.
According to figures published by Gaza's government media office in April, Israeli airstrikes have destroyed more than 1,000 mosques and three churches – in what many observers see as a deliberate assault on sites of worship.
Follow us on:
Facebook
Instagram
Whatsapp
Short link:
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Macron's plan to recognize Palestinian state, divides Western allies
Macron's plan to recognize Palestinian state, divides Western allies

Daily News Egypt

time36 minutes ago

  • Daily News Egypt

Macron's plan to recognize Palestinian state, divides Western allies

France announced on Thursday it will formally recognize a Palestinian state in September, a move that drew widespread praise from Arab nations but sharp condemnation from Israel and the United States, highlighting a growing diplomatic rift over the conflict. French President Emmanuel Macron said the decision was in keeping with France's 'historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.' He added that he would make the formal announcement at the United Nations General Assembly in September. In a post on the social media platform X, which included an official letter to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Macron stressed that the priority was to stop the Israeli war on Gaza and provide relief to the civilian population. 'An immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and significant humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza must be achieved,' he said. The announcement was met with praise from Palestinian factions and across the Arab world but triggered a furious response from Israel and firm rejection from its main ally, the United States. ISRAELI AND US REJECTION Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticised the French decision as a 'reward for terrorism' and claimed the establishment of a Palestinian state would be a 'platform for the elimination of Israel.' Defence Minister Yisrael Katz called the move 'a disgrace and a surrender to terrorism,' while Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar attacked Macron, saying he 'cannot provide security for Israel… I hope he can do it in the streets of Paris.' The United States also voiced its opposition. US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said Washington 'strongly' rejected the decision, calling it a 'reckless' move that 'only serves Hamas's propaganda and hinders the achievement of peace.' Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of US President Donald Trump, described Paris's decision as 'strange and disturbing,' arguing it would 'make it harder to reach a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.' A German government spokesperson said Berlin did not intend to recognise a Palestinian state in the near future, stating that its priority was 'long-overdue progress' towards a two-state solution and that 'Israel's security is of paramount importance to the German government.' ARAB AND PALESTINIAN PRAISE The move was widely welcomed by Palestinian and Arab leaders. Palestinian Authority Deputy President, Hussein al-Sheikh, thanked Macron for his 'steadfast position,' while the Hamas movement called the announcement a 'positive step in the right direction' that reflected 'growing international conviction in the justice of the Palestinian cause.' Egypt praised the announcement as a 'decisive and historic step' and urged all countries that have not yet recognised a Palestinian state to do so. Saudi Arabia hailed the 'historic decision,' with its foreign ministry stating that it 'affirms the international consensus on the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.' The Kingdom renewed its call for other nations to take 'similar positive steps.' Jordan welcomed the move as a 'step in the right direction,' while Kuwait and Qatar both praised the announcement and called on other countries to follow suit. The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassim Al-Budaiwi, called it an 'important step reflecting France's commitment to justice and international legitimacy.' DIVISIONS IN EUROPE The French move highlighted diverging positions within Europe and the West. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, whose country recognised a Palestinian state last year along with Norway and Ireland, welcomed France's decision, saying it would 'protect' the two-state solution. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Ottawa supports a two-state solution that guarantees peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians. 'Canada will work intensively in all international forums to achieve a two-state solution,' he said. In Britain, however, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his government would only recognise a Palestinian state as part of a negotiated peace agreement, a position that disappointed many in his own ruling Labour Party. Over 220 members of parliament, mostly from the Labour Party, sent a letter to Starmer on Friday urging him to recognise a Palestinian state. One Labour MP said there was 'deep anger' within the party over what was perceived as a weak stance on condemning Israel's actions in Gaza. The French announcement comes ahead of a U.N. conference on the two-state solution at the ministerial level on Monday and Tuesday, co-chaired by the foreign ministers of France and Saudi Arabia.

Palestinian infant dies of starvation in Gaza - War on Gaza
Palestinian infant dies of starvation in Gaza - War on Gaza

Al-Ahram Weekly

timean hour ago

  • Al-Ahram Weekly

Palestinian infant dies of starvation in Gaza - War on Gaza

An infant, Hud Arafat, died Saturday morning due to severe malnutrition and the lack of baby formula, according to the Palestinian WAFA news agency. Another Palestinian was killed, and dozens were injured in Israeli airstrikes on Al-Bureij refugee camp and the city of Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip. Arafat's death brings the number of children who have died from starvation and malnutrition in the past 24 hours to three, raising the total death toll from hunger-related causes in Gaza to 124. Medical sources reported that 84 children were among the victims of the mass-starvation policy imposed by Israeli occupation forces in the Gaza Strip. This follows the deaths of two other infants from starvation and malnutrition announced on Friday. Over 900,000 children are currently suffering from hunger, 70,000 of whom have entered the stage of clinical malnutrition, placing them at imminent risk of death. Israel's systematic blockade of food, water, and medicine—particularly since 2 March—has plunged the Strip into what rights groups describe as a 'man-made famine.' The deliberate starvation of civilians has been widely denounced as a tactic of collective punishment and a war crime, intensifying calls from legal experts and human rights organizations to recognize Israel's campaign as genocidal. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) had earlier warned that malnutrition among children under five had doubled between March and June due to the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, hopes for a ceasefire faded this week as the United States and Israel abruptly pulled out of the latest round of negotiations with Hamas, despite the group's stated willingness to continue talks. The move drew sharp criticism from international aid groups and regional governments, who have urged renewed diplomatic pressure to halt the war and end the starvation campaign. According to medical sources cited by WAFA, a Palestinian man, Tamer Abu Daqqa, was killed and another was injured when Israeli artillery struck a residential house in Block 3 of Al-Bureij refugee camp. Several casualties were also reported when Israeli forces shelled a gathering of people near the Bani Suhaila roundabout, east of Khan Yunis. Since dawn, at least 31 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, including six individuals who were waiting for humanitarian aid. Israel's genocidal war on Gaza has claimed the lives of nearly 57,000 Palestinians, primarily women and children, since its outbreak in October 2023. At least 143,965 others have been injured, with the toll expected to rise as many victims remain trapped under rubble or in areas inaccessible to rescue teams. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:

Israeli army destroys 1,000 truckloads of food and medicine for Gaza, report
Israeli army destroys 1,000 truckloads of food and medicine for Gaza, report

Egypt Independent

timean hour ago

  • Egypt Independent

Israeli army destroys 1,000 truckloads of food and medicine for Gaza, report

The Israeli army has destroyed tens of thousands of relief supplies, including large quantities of food, intended for the residents of Gaza, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported on Friday citing Israeli military sources. The corporation indicated that the destroyed aid included 1,000 truckloads of food and medical supplies, stressing that the destruction of the humanitarian supplies was due to a defect in the aid distribution mechanism in Gaza. Joint statement by members of the US Congress emphasized the chaos and danger in delivering aid to Gaza Strip has led to the deaths of approximately 700 people, noting that the humanitarian conditions in Gaza are appalling and unacceptable. The statement added that more than 100 non-governmental organizations have warned of widespread famine across Gaza Strip, stressing that up to 75 percent of Gaza's population is facing catastrophic levels of famine following the blockade imposed by Israel Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu. The statement continued: 'The aid provided by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is insufficient to meet the needs of the population, and the Trump administration ignored congressional consultations in granting GHF US$30 million.' 'The expansion of the Israeli military operation in Gaza has put humanitarian operations at risk, and the continuation of this war without a clear end is not in Israel's national security interest.' The statement noted that, 'the absence of a practical plan for the post-war period in Gaza was a grave mistake. We call on the Trump administration to pressure Netanyahu to undertake radical reforms or close the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. We also call on the Trump administration to pressure Netanyahu to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store