The French president, Emmanuel Macron, said this Thursday that he aims to work toward a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict. Just a fortnight after presenting ideas to the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, France reaffirmed its role in the international coalition against terrorism and its commitment to humanitarian access. Macron’s stance marks a notable shift in Paris’s public tone on the war, signaling support for a pause in hostilities while stressing that no durable peace can emerge without meaningful steps from all sides. The toll remains heavy, with casualties exceeding ten thousand Palestinians and around thirteen hundred Israelis reported in the fighting.
“The situation is serious and worsening by the day,” Macron stated at the opening of a humanitarian conference on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict hosted at the Elysée. He urged a quick humanitarian pause and reiterated the need for a ceasefire, while stopping short of endorsing a formal truce. “With this shift in rhetoric, pressure mounts on Israel, which has shown firmness in pursuing military operations and ground actions in the Palestinian enclave,” the president noted. Netanyahu, meanwhile, emphasized that there will be no humanitarian ceasefire until Israeli hostages are released.
“A war against all Palestinians”
The Paris gathering took place within a week’s time and underscored the enduring fragility of diplomatic efforts. The event did not invite Israel and included participation by the Palestinian Authority and, in the West Bank, Mohammed Shtayyeh, who governs there but whose influence is limited in the Gaza Strip under Hamas. Most European states attended, with Luxembourg and Ireland reportedly staying away. The meeting did not yield an accepted, formal plan, and no final communique emerged.
“What is Israel doing? This is a war not against Hamas, but against all Palestinians,” Shtayyeh said, recalling the high Palestinian fatalities in the West Bank and criticizing the humanitarian situation in Gaza where water and food were scarce. He argued that the war should end and pointed out the futility of distributing aid if lives are at risk the very next day.
LIVE | International humanitarian conference for the civilian population of Gaza. https://t.co/9NQMvUUGp8
— Élysée (@Elysée) 9 November 2023
Although the path toward a two-state solution remains a distant goal, concrete measures such as ending settlement expansion were not the central focus of the talks. Official briefings described the conference as a practical effort to expand humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza. The discussions touched on the potential deportation of a militant connected to a leftist Palestinian group, which sparked protests in France.
1.2 billion in humanitarian aid
In the wake of Hamas’s attacks on October 7, the Israeli government introduced restrictions at crossing points that limit humanitarian flows. Observers note that the situation in the Palestinian territories remains dire. Philippe Lazzarini, the UNHCR commissioner-general, described his visit to Gaza as one of the most painful experiences of his career, recounting scenes of crowded schools where children begged for water and bread. In response, some voices called for greater relief efforts, while others argued that relief alone cannot solve the broader crisis.
UN estimates a funding need of about 1.2 billion dollars, with the region housing around 2.3 million people in precarious conditions. Macron announced a substantial increase in France’s aid from 20 to 100 million euros for Gazan civilians. Other nations echoed similar commitments at the Paris conference, and there was discussion of a humanitarian corridor extending through Cyprus. Egyptian officials criticized the global response as insufficient, warning that goodwill could be squandered if action falters.
Macron also announced a plan from France to deploy a hospital ship off Gaza to bolster medical capacity, addressing a health system that many warned was close to collapse. France’s navy also dispatched a helicopter carrier to the area. Italy indicated it would send a hospital ship in the near future. The extent and effectiveness of these medical deployments remain uncertain, and observers question whether they will meaningfully alleviate the daily hardships faced by civilians in Gaza.