French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a "permanent ceasefire" in Gaza during a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his office said, as the Palestinian territory is gripped by an escalating humanitarian crisis.
"In the coming days, France will work in cooperation with Jordan to carry out humanitarian operations in Gaza," added the French presidency, AFP reported.
Macron, who has been an ally of Netanyahu since the start of the war sparked by Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, told the Israeli prime minister his "deepest concern" over the civilian deaths and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
He also insisted on the importance of measures to end Israeli settler violence against Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank.
Netanyahu's office said that during the conversation, the prime minister thanked Macron for France's "participation in protecting freedom of navigation and its willingness to help restore security along Israel's border with Lebanon."
Macron has steadily intensified his criticism of Israel over its offensive in Gaza.
Last week he said Israel's aim to fight terrorism did not mean it had to "raze Gaza to the ground", urging the government to "stop this reaction because it is not appropriate because all lives are worth the same and we we protect"./BGNES
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