On March 24, French President Emmanuel Macron told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that any forced transfer of people from the southern city of Rafah to Gaza would constitute a "war crime," AFP reported.
He reiterated his opposition to any Israeli military operation to fight Hamas in Rafah, where most of Gaza's population has taken refuge after months of fierce fighting in the besieged territory.
In a telephone conversation between the two leaders, Macron also strongly condemned Israel's announced confiscation of 800 hectares of land in the occupied West Bank for new settlements.
Activists say Israel's declaration that land in the northern Jordan Valley is now "state land" is the biggest such takeover in decades.
In the talks, Macron told Netanyahu that he intends to submit a draft resolution to the UN Security Council calling for an "immediate and permanent ceasefire."
He also called on Israel to immediately open all crossings into Gaza.
The planned ground offensive in Rafah faced intense international pressure, with warnings that it would lead to mass civilian casualties and worsen the humanitarian crisis.
However, Israel insists that it is necessary in its campaign to destroy Hamas.
The Gaza war was sparked by an unprecedented Hamas attack on 7 October that resulted in some 1,160 Israeli casualties, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures.
Israel vowed to destroy the militants, who also took about 250 hostages, of whom Israel believes about 130 remain in Gaza, including 33 presumed dead.
According to the health ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory, 32,070 people have died as a result of nearly six months of fighting in Gaza.
Israel has faced growing worldwide opposition to its military campaign as Palestinian civilian deaths have soared and the siege has led to widespread malnutrition and starvation. / BGNES
